as were taken prisoners dreadfully executed which is seconded by that Oracle of our Laws Sir Edw. Coke Lord Chief Justice in the 3d. p. of his Institutes find a Principle in Law a Rule in Reason and a Trial in Experience that Treason doth ever produce fatal and final destruction to the Offender and never attaineth to the desired End two Incidents inseparable thereunto and therefore let all Men abandon it as the most poisonous Bait of the Devil of Hell and follow the Precept in Holy Scripture Fear God Honour the King and have no Company with the Seditious or at we translate it Meddle not with them that are given to change Prov. 24.21 Sect. 113. But suppose the Rebellion be prosperous and successful that the Rebels be Victors and instead of being drawn to the deserved Gibbet they usurp the Throne and arraign the Sovereign Powers as Criminals before their Tribunal and pronounce and execute that ugly Sentence on them they themselves have merited will they be as free from guilt before God as they will presume themselves secured from the Vengeance of Man No surely they are hainous Sinners against God and shall be punished with an everlasting destruction from the Presence of the Lord for resisting the Powers ordained by him and this is the Apostolical Doctrine professed by the Church of England who thus concludes the first Part of her Homily or Sermon of Obedience to Rulers with reference to my Text. Here let us learn of St. Paul the chosen Vessel of God that all Persons having Souls he excepteth none nor exempteth none neither Priest Apostle nor Prophet saith St. Chrysostome do owe bounden Duty and even in Conscience Obedience Submission and Subjection to the Higher Powers which be set in Authority by God forasmuch as they be God's Lieutenants God's Presidents God's Officers God's Commissioners God's Judges ordain'd of God himself of whom only they have all their Power and all their Authority and the same St. Paul threatneth no less pain than everlasting damnation to all disobedient Persons against all Resisters against this general and common Authority forasmuch as they resist not Man but God not Man's Device and Invention but God's Wisdom God's Order Power and Authority Sect. 114. That this truth may the more evidently appear I will represent unto you 1. The Sinfulness of resisting the Higher Powers with armed Force 2. The Grounds upon which the Decree and Ordination of God to condemn rebellious Resisters to an everlasting destruction is founded 1. That the Sinfulness of Rebellious Resistance against the Higher Powers may the more evidently appear it shall be considered both more generally as 't is directly opposed to Subjection and more particularly as it includes those â—vils which are necessarily antecedent and dispositive to it concomitants with it effects and consequential attendants of it Sect. 115. 1. We will consider the sinfulness of a Rebellious Resisting of the higher Powers more generally as 't is directly opposed in the Text to Subjection in the former Verse As Subjection is a Practical acknowledgment of our Allegiance and bounden Duty to the higher Powers so a violent Resistance of them is a practical disclaiming and renouncing of Submission and Obedience to them and consequently a Defiance made to that Power which is God's Ordinance and a contemning of the Authority of God himself Apostolus cujusque est ut quisque every ones Officer is himself say the Jews Disobedience to the Authority and Resistance against the Person of the Sovereign Ruler or those Commissioned by him who are God's Ministers and Deputy Gods is Disobedience and Resistance against God himself And accordingly Moses told Korah and his Confederates who associated themselves in opposition to Aaron as an Usurper that encroached on the Rights Liberties and Priviledges of the Lord's People that he and all his Company were gathered together against the Lord Numb 16.11 their Conspiracy and Rebellion against the Lord's Officer was against the Lord himself because he acted not in his own name and upon his own account but in God's name and for God's service And elsewhere told them that when they murmured against him and Aaron your murmurings are not against us i. e. only but against the Lord Ex. 16.8 i. e. principally and especially So God himself said to Samuel when the People stubbornly resolved upon another manner of Government than that he had exercised over them as to the external Pomp Grandeur and Succession thereof they have not rejected thee but they have rejected me that I should not Reign over them 1 Sam. 8.7 which is also the Case of all Christ's Ministers as Christ himself assured them Luke 10.16 He that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me And elsewhere Jo. 13.20 He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me So that the Officers of God and his Christ are as God and Christ themselves presentiate or represent them exercise not their own but their Authority and therefore the Despisers and Resisters thereof are Despisers and Resisters of the Persons and Authority of God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son And as Moses said to the Oppugnors of Aaron and what is Aaron So say I to the Resisters of the King and what is the King hath not God said that Kings are Gods Psal 82.1 6 And Reign by him Pr. 8.15 or as our Apostle stiles them twice in one Verse after the Text v. 4. they are the Ministers of God his Vice Roys Commissioned to attend his Work continually and God standeth and ruleth by them and judgeth with them Psal 82.1 He therefore that resisteth and fighteth against the King resisteth and fighteth against God himself Acts 5.39 for the Authority and Power of the King is the Authority and Power of God himself and consequently he who rejecteth and deposeth the King doth constructively reject and depose God himself because his Authority not only abstractly in its self but also concretly as inherent in his own Person and executed by him is of God too For as there is no Power or Authority but of God so the Powers the Persons in Authority that be are ordain'd of God whether they are good or bad Sect. 116. 'T is not therefore strange at all that Samuel compares Rebellion to the sin of Witch-craft and affirms it to be such a stubbornness for stubbornness is exegetical of Rebellion as is iniquity and Idolatry 1 Sam. 15.23 Rebellion is as the Sin of Witch-craft and stubbornness is as iniquity and Idolatry Indeed the Rebellion here spoken of was a Matter of Disobedience committed immediately against God himself but yet I conceive very applicable to that committed also immediately against the King because the Authority of the King and of God himself is the self same thing and the formal Reason of Subjection to the one and the other the very same viz. for conscience-sake that
Ease Liberty Property and Safety of the Subject cry themselves up for the Patriots of their Country if they encourage a Resistance of the Supream Powers and expose Subjects to the Mischiefs of War and lay them open to the Mercy of a Victorious Army the result will be Anarchy and Confusion Were Resistance of Authority never so lawful 't is such a Remedy of Public Grievances as never did or will bear its own Charges and whatever Nation or People used it paid a Severe Reckoning for it and lamented their Folly and Rashness The Miscarriages Oppressions and Tyrannies of a Single Person are finite and reach but to particular cases but the Miseries of War are endless and universal And whatever the Event be or whoever wins the Prize contended for the Common-wealth is sure to be a loser by it and the Generality never reap any thing from it but repentance and a dear bought experience of the Insolence of Souldiers who with drawn Swords rate the Merits of their Services and are not easily pleased unless they take whatever they demand If Princes may and do abuse their Power 't is much more certain that the Rabble neither can or will use theirs aright Sect. 14. 2. 'T is against Common Reason That Subjects should be allowed Liberty in any case whatsoever to resist the Sovereign Power because if Resistance in any case be allowed it must be allowed in all cases reducible to that case as hath been already intimated and the Subjects themselves being the Judges of it when they are disobliged and discontented they will presently pretend that case and the Common People are so easily imposed on and so partially affected to that which they account their own Interest that there will be no stop to pretences but they will be apt to conceive themselves Tyrannically insulted over and grievously oppressed when no harm at all is done to them and so disturb and hazard the Government rather than suffer the smalsest Inconveniences I will give you two remarkable Instances from the Scriptures of discontented popular Men who from unreasonable and wicked pretences resisted and disturbed two of the Best Governours in the World Sect. 14. 1. The First I shall instance for this is Moses He was meek above all the Men that were upon the Face of the Earth Numb 12.3 free from all sour and surly Passions and so full of gentleness and clemency that he gave no just cause of provocation to any Man And he was a Man of such unstained integrity that he hath this Character from the Holy Ghost himself That he was faithful in all Gods House Heb. 3.2 and he was so fast a Friend to the Israelttes that to preserve their Lives and Peace he hazarded his own Exo. 2.12 13 14 15. He was so highly favoured by God himself that he chose him to be the Captain General over his own People and his Conduct was seconded with so many Miracles and such extraordinary Preservations and Deliverances that he was as a God to them Exod. 4.16 and Moses had such glorious Appearances of God to him and such visible Symbols of his gracious Presence with him that they could not but be convinced that he was raised up by God himself to be their Leader and Saviour Yet when this Excellent Ruler of his People had by Gods own Appointment Consecrated Aaron and his Sons to the Priesthood and God gave an evident Testimony immediately from Heaven that the Service of Aaron in his Priestly Office was highly acceptable to him which was with astonishing admiration acknowledged by all the People of Israel Lev. 9.24 Yet you shall find that Cerah Dathan and Abiram pretend that their Civil and Religious Rights are Invaded and they themselves insolently tyrannized over And hereupon They gather themselves together against Moses and Aarons and lay to them ye take too much upon you seeing all the Congregation are holy every one of them Numb 16.3 q. d. you deal partially and impropriate that to a few which of Right belongs to all And v. 13. they said to Moses Is it a Small Thing that thou hast brought us up out of a Land flowing with Milk and Honey to Kill us in the Wilderness except thou make thy self altogether a Ruler over us q.d. will nothing satisfie thee but Arbitrary Government And say they v. 14. Wilt thou put out the Eyes of these People q. d. dost think that these People are so dull and inapprehensive that they do not perceive that thou hast a Design to enslave them to thy imperious Will And what more unjust and unreasonable Pretences could there be made against the Administration of any Government in the World Yet you shall find that this Pleading of the Peoples Rights and Liberties and Priviledges was so taking that presently Two Hundred and Fifty of the Congregation took part with them Numb 16.2 and shortly after the whole Body of the Israelites unanimously espoused the Quarrel and 't was one and all against Moses and Aaron v. 19. and 't is wonderful to observe that though God miraculously manifested his indignation and abhorrence against these Rebels and their wicked Pretences causing the Earth to make it self a Grave to Bury them alive Numb 16.32 33. and sent down Fire from Heaven to consume the Two Hundred and Fifty Men who by Offering Incense had Invaded Priests Office v. 35. Yet notwithstanding all this you shall find that those bold and confident Speeches of Corah and his Companions being of a Popular Strain did so strangly insinuate into the Factious and Licentious Humour of the People and had such powerful influence upon them that the Main Body of the People the very next Day fall to murmuring against Moses and Aaron justifie the Complaints and Pretences of Corab and his Confederates own those Rebels for the People of the Lord and thought them hardly dealt withal And though God by his own immediate hand had destroved them in their very sight yet they impudently impute the spilling of their Blood to Moses and Aaron v. 41 42. Sect. 15. Now that which I design to infer from this notable instance are these Two Things 1. That Men of Seditious and Rebellious Spirits harden themselves against Convictions from the most Eminent Demonstrations of Divine Justice and Vengeance are implacable and unreconcilable to the Governing Powers over them will Calumniate Affront and Oppose them in Desiance to all the Reason Religion and Justice in the World And also 2. That 't is an easie matter for Men of discontented and ambitious Spirits to pretend Grievances Oppressions and Innovations under the most Regular Government in the World and such Men shall never want Partakers and Followers And therefore if it be allowable for Subjects to judge when there is a just and warrantable Ground for Insurrections and Rebellions against their Rulers there shall never be any setled Government upon Earth Sect. 16. 2. The other Governour I shall instance is David He was a King of Gods own
God may be pleased in having his Will fulfilled Rebellion and Stubbornness against the King are of the like Nature with the Sins of Witch-craft iniquity or Superstition as some Translate it and Idolatry against God because they partake of the same Commerce with the Spirit that worketh in the Children of Disobedience alike averse to Subjection and Obedience to the Institutions and Commands of God and alike addicted to the vain Imaginations and Reasonings of their own depraved Minds and alike resolved to fulfil their own Wills in contradiction to the Will of God And as Witch-craft Superstition and Idolatry ascribe the Honor and Glory that is due to God to another so a Rebellious and Stubborn Resistance of the Sovereign Powers is an usurping and arrogating of that Superiority and Vindicative Authority over the Sovereign Powers which belongs to God alone the Subjects assuming the Glory of the Divine Authority and punitive vengeance to themselves and when Offenders are under the like Guilts they must expect the like Alotment of Punishment And accordingly Vatablus on the Place thus Paraphraseth it Tam grave peceatum est tam gravis punitio ei debetur So that if Witch-craft Superstition and Idolatry put Men into a State of Damnation so doth Rebellion And the Church of England Declares in express Terms That eternal Damnation is prepared for all impenitent Rebels in Hell with Satan the first Founder of Rebellion and grand Captain of all Rebels And cells us that the Rebels themselves are the very Figures of Fiends and Devils and as they be followers of Lucifers Rebellion so shall they be of his Damnation in Hell undoubtedly partakers In part 3d. of Serm. against wilfut Rebellion And in the same Homily affirms That all sins possible to be committed against God or Man be contain'd in Rebellion And how horrible a sin against God and Man Rebellion is cannot possibly be expressed according to the greatness of it And what punishment can be too great for so great an offence Sect. 117. That the Truth hereof may the more manifestly be discovered we will consider a Rebellious Resistance of the Sovereign Powers in its Antecedent Concomitant and Consequent sinful Evils From which it will appear that Rebellion is not a singular or one only Sin but the whole Puddle and Sink of all Sins as our Church teacheth us in the Sermon afore-quoted 1. Let us consider a Rebellious Resistance of the Sovereign Powers in its antecedent dispositive sinful Causes and Preparations and we shall find it a Stream issuing from a very filthy Fountain and and of a very hainous Nature meritorious of an answerable punishment Sect. 118. 1. A Rebellious Resistance of the Sovereign Power proceeds from a Luciferian pride and presumption Pr. 13.10 Only by pride cometh contention Proud and Ambitious Rebels would be above all and under none Like Tyre they set their Hearts as the Heart of God Ezek. 28.2 saying with insolent Nineveh Zep. 2.15 I am and there is none beside me They conceit themselves so superlatively excellent that they will own no Superiours or Equals So much Lords and Masters of themselves that they are not only sufficient to protect preserve and defend themselves but also to cast down and domineer over all that are near them especially such as are set above them or would be competitors with them And what is the State of such proud ones before God Truly be knoweth them afar off Ps 138.6 scorneth such scorners Pr. 3.24 resists and counteracts them Jam. 4.6 and therefore they are sure to have a fall and that a terrible low one too they fall into the Condemnation of the Devil 1 Tim. 3.6 Sect. 119. 2. A Rebellious Resistance of the Sovereign Power proceeds from discontent Subjects dislike their Rank and Station they think themselves to be as well accomplished to be Men of Place and to make a Figure in the Government as the best of them all and 't is an hard Case that they should be only Creatures of Burden set in the World to be commanded and controlled have Freedom of Will without Freedom of Practice confined to the imperious Impositions of other Mens Wills and Pleasures who under no consideration intrinsical to the human Nature are any thing better than themselves And if the Public Administrations happen to be contrary to their particular humors and private interests and their Persons fall under any Public Disgrace their dissatisfaction is heightened and their condition becomes intolerable to them and their only Remedy to ease themselves and have their Wills is to rise up against the higher Powers and to contend with them for the Preheminence And what is this but a Contention with God to have their Wills in contradistinction to his Will They will not allow the Lord of all Things to do with his own as he pleaseth but they will prescribe unto God how and where to place them and will not be pleased unless God value them and prefer them according to that rate they set on their own worth and serviceableness The Lord himself called the Children of Israel who murmured against Moses and Aaron Rebels Numb 16.41 comp with ch 17.10 because their discontent did lead to Rebellion and end in it But how doth the Lord take it at mens hands when they grudge and are not satisfied with their condition Truly such Men being conformed to the Image of Satan they wander up and down under God's Curse seeking rest and finding none Ps 59.15 and St. Jude reporting the Reasons and manner of Christs Process to execute the last Judgment upon all that are ungodly v. 15. he numbers the Murmurers i. e. discontented Persons in the fore-front of them all as the Chieftains among all that are ungodly and marked out for the vengeance of eternal fire v. 16. Sect. 120. 2. A Rebellious Resistance of the Sovereign Power proceeds from a Spirit of Envy Malice Strife and Contention Hab 1.3 There are that raise up strife and contention Busie-bodies that love to Fish in troubled Waters And these are invidious minded Men whose Eyes are evil because God is good are grieved vexed and tormented because other Men are more at ease and better accommodated and contented than themselves trouble their own Flesh and rot their very Bones that others excel and are in any thing their Superiours and that they may disquiet and disturb others which they think stand in the Way as Obstacles to their Designs they will engage themselves in the most difficult and hazardous enterprizes Envyings strifes contentions factions and seditions are solemnly coupled together as near a Kin and springing one from the other 1 Cor. 3.3 2 Cor. 12.20 Gal. 5.20 what invidious and quarrelsom spirited Men cannot challenge and obtain by merit they will endeavour to accomplish by fraud force and violence Jam. 4.1 from whence come warrings and fightings among ye Come not they hence even from your lust which war in your members When Men are discomposed and disordered with