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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
lord_n	david_n	house_n	king_n	10,577	5	4.0463	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A46828	The magistrate's duty in a sermon, preached at Saint Crux in the city of York, on Sunday, August the 16th, immediatly after the reception of the charter, and the swearing of the Lord Mayor and Alderman / by Chr. Jackson ...	Jackson, Christopher, 1638-1701.	1685 (1685)	Wing J68; ESTC R22682	14,480	34

Righteousness exalteth a Nation but sin is a reproach to any people Religion makes a Kingdom glorious and prosperous Sin debaseth it as some of the Ancients have observed as to the Heathens This is the great Prop and Bulwark of the Throne as Pro. c. 16.12 and cap. 25.5 we read Take away the wicked Rebels and other ungodly persons from before the King and his throne shall be established in Righteousness The continuance of Davids house was upon this condition He is Treacherous to the King that punisheth not the impious that is not active and zealous against Sedition and other transgressions It was as long as Vzziah sought the Lord that he prospered as we are informed in 1 Chr. 26.5 6. And when Jehosaphat walked in the Commandments of the Lord and the Priests went about and taught the Law it follows as 1 Chr. 17.10 And the fear of the Lord fell upon all the Kingdoms of the Lands that were round about Judah so that they made no war against Jehosaphat That is an excellent piece of Instruction of St. Cyprian Esto Religiosus in Deum si vis illum propitium Imperatori be thou pious towards God if thou wouldst have him propitious and favourable to the Emperour The prosperity of the Common-wealth as Constantine told Anilinus Governour of Africa did depend upon their estimation and practice of Religion and therefore he afforded large immunities to the Bishops and others that were more immediatly conversant about it This as Evagrius acquaint us was plainly affirmed by Zeno the Emperour Yea it is delivered by an infallible hand in 1 Sam. 12. ult If ye not he do wickedly ye shall perish both ye and your King The sins of a People may ruine a Prince tho' he have not offended in the like manner 2. Secondly Thus Crimes will grow less numerous It is such as are least punisht that most abound as we see in swearing slander and drunkenness theft and adultery are not so frequent and bare faced as those Impunity invites men to break a Law non-execution defeats the good designs of it Thus those that should lessen offences do multiply them and this Toleration of Injustice and any impiety intitles them to it I shall now pass on to the Inferences to be added by way of Application 1. Inf. First Then there is no ground for Malefactors to think much or murmur when threatned or punished stubborn Diseases call for course remedies and Medicines Est merè diabolicum dogma saith Beza sinendum esse unumquemque ut si volet pereat that everyone is to be suffered if he will to perish is a Diabolical opinion Reason will tell them that those that are prejudicial to themselves and others must out of compassion be curb'd sometimes tied hand foot Bears Tygers Wolves and Lions must not run loose nothing will prevail with some but sharp handling so disingenuous they are Let them not complain when they have but what is their due 2. Inf. Secondly Then Government and Ruling is an hard task they have unruly strong passions heady boistrous men to set limits to Hear Moses a person of great learning and rare accomplishments expostulating with God as Num. 11.11 about this matter And Moses said unto the Lord wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant And wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me He thought his shoulders unmeet for such a heavy Load Such various tempers it is no easie thing to over-rule that they may proportionably Administer to the welfare of all Solomon as 2 Chr. 1 10. accounted it as well nigh impossible Who can judge saith he this thy people that is so great 3. Inf. Thirdly Then here is a Standard and great measure for Rulers they are to promote what is good and obstruct what is sinful and evil A King as Prov. 28.8 that sitteth on the Throne of Judgement scattereth away all evil with his eyes there is not an ill thing hath the confidence to come in his sight Every one is watchful that he may do what he ought The young men saith Job as Cap. 29.8 saw me and hid themselves the aged arose and stood up They could not see him without awful apprehensions The stourest transgressors should know that there is an holy warmth in the Magistrates heart a sword in their hands they should make those tremble fly into corners They should as one of their quality once profest never deny justice to the poor for their poverty nor pardon the wealthy for their riches They should never give reward for affection nor punishment for passion They should never suffer evil to go unpunished nor goodness unrewarded They should not deny justice to him that prayes for it nor mercy to him that deserves it They should never open their door to the flatterer nor their ear to the backbiter They should seek to be loved of the good and to be feared of the evil They should always favour the Poor that are able to do little God that is able to do much will favour them They must call to mind that Government is rather Gratiâ gubernati then Gubernatoris for the sake of the Governed then Governing They must remember that all the Power in the World is unable to establish in a sinful course They must not screen under their Authority any Covetous or revengeful purposes or Attempts 4. Inf. Fourthly and lastly then see here the happiness of a people that hath good Rulers What a blessing is it that we have a Prince so Just so Generous and that hath declared himself an enemy to all exorbitances Constantines Court was applauded for being like a Temple a Church and when Cicero had executed the conspirators with Cataline the people nam'd him the Saviour and Founder of the City Let us behold God in the Magistrate and account of order as a precious thing We cannot so much as be without Government and then how great a mercy is it when our Governours are active to prevent evil and propagate good Let us give them reverence in word gesture action which we ow them Let us willingly obey their lawful commands tho' sometimes as we imagine inexpedient Let us not unnecessarily publish their mistakes Let it be our daily prayers as we have been lately taughe by a better hand that under them we may lead peaceable and quiet lives in all godliness and honesty Let us study be ambitious to live peaceably and mind our own business then we shall procure a blessing upon them and our selves God will be magnified the Throne strengthened vice discouraged and whatsoever things are true whatsover things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are venerable whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report will thrive and flourish FINIS

no Possessor or Heir of restraint or Master of Prohibition according to the Hebrew there was none that by Succession or Divine Election laid claim to the Office none that did make them asham'd of what was ill or indecent And to Restrain in the Holy Book is to Reign so we use it 1 Sam. 9.17 where we read That when Samuel saw Saul the Lord said unto him behold the man whom I spake to thee of this same shall Reign over my People In the Original the word Signifies he shall restrain in or among my People The business then of a Ruler is to protect the vertuous and to scare even for their own good the vicious from their Impieties The Idolatries and other irreguralities of the Israelites are charged upon their Princes which never had been done if it had not been their duty and that they had power to keep them from those courses That is a worthy Question of one of the Ancients Quis mentis sobrius dicat Regibus non advos pertinet quis in vestro Regno velit esse Religiosus aut Sacrilegus What man is in his wits will tell Kings that it is nothing to them who within their Dominions be Religious or who Sacrilegious All the ill things they might and ought to prevent and do not lie at their doors thus they contract guilt and have their other mens sins They are Fathers of their Countrey and reclaiming and reducing them that are erroneous and insolent is but a product of their Paternal care because they love them in such extremities they must use them hardly Physicians of the Body Politique as well as Natural sometimes are constrain'd to make choice of Corrosives and cut off Members it is their Prudence to begin betimes a word may do that at first which a Rod will not effect afterwards By too great Clemency the number of bad men will be so great that it will not be safe to go about to amend them at least not a few will be wrackt in the Reformation Contempt is the issue of too much Lenity For 2. Secondly This is the great support of their credit and of the Reputation and Dignity of their Place They are God's Vice-Roys to him vengeance belongs and he hath intrusted them with the executing of it they make him as far as possible the Author and Abettor of Crimes when they justifie the Wicked and condemn the Righteous when they suffer any to go on in their almost uncontroulable licentiousness and destructive extravagancies It was such Indulgence a sparing those whom God had devoted to ruine that lost Saul his Kingdom and Ahab his life What plainer token of Disobedience then not to smite when he bids do it then to favour those that he esteems the Pests and Fire-brands of the World This is under his Authority to violate his Laws and to Patronize his Enemies such negligence in Servants shall not go unpunished Thus also all good men are disheartned When as Prov. 11.10 it goeth well with the righteous the City rejoiceth and when the wicked perish there is shouting and Chap. 28.28 When the wicked rise men hide themselves but when they perish the righteous increase When Oppressions Frauds Slanders and all beastly Vices have freedom all modest upright orderly persons are afflicted and grieved have no mind to shew themselves their number at least as to appearance decreaseth nay more then this in the estimation of the ill men themselves that are cherished a Ruler falls much he is trampled upon vilified represented as base by them They render him as odious and contemptible he is despised in their eyes taxed for ignorance weakness and insufficiency just as the too too cockering and tender Mother is slighted and reproached by the pamper'd Child so true is that of God utter'd as in 1 Sam. 2.30 when Eli had prefer'd his Sons before God Them that honour me I will honour and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed Connivance much more assistance makes such notorious offenders judge a Magistrate a Partner as a poor mean spirited man that cannot or will not contradict them as one altogether unfit for his Office 2. Secondly I shall enquire what Evil-doers in particular Magistrates are to punish and restrain They are to be a Terrour to 1. First They are to be a terrour to prophaners of Holy things to those that neglect or contemn God's Worship that give no honour to his day to his Ordinances to what is Sacred and nearly related to him The Ark a Symbol of the Divine presence had Davids serious thoughts his primary care and repairing the Lords house having the Law read and taught making provision for the Levites and Priests was the Principal endeavour of good Hezekiah and Josiah The Greek Father speaks of Jovian the Emperour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It was Princely wisdom in him to defend the Truth because the truth could best support him Princes are never so readily obeyed as when the People are Religiously disposed and Magistrates that heed not the defence of God's Laws do but teach the people how to undervalue theirs They must uphold their Church and their Crowns too this belongs to them as Kings that as Advocates of the Church as a Father hath it Even the Kings of Persia and Babylon decreed that the Temple should be re-edified and the God of the three Children and Daniel Worshipped for which they were more celebrated then for any other Enterprize This made Constantine and Theodosius great more then any other thing And the Act of the King of Nineveh when destruction was threatned makes him famous 2. Secondly To Blasphemers to those that defie heaven by horrid Oaths and imprecations that without any temptation often dishonour God The Heathens would suffer none to revile their Gods None of us willingly would permit a reverend Friend to be exposed after this rate to have his name forc't into what is absurd frivolous and false to be mentioned vainly lightly to be solemnly brought to attest an untruth We ought not to trifle thus with the name of an Earthly King and then not with his who is the King of Kings to acknowledge God and yet thus to disgrace him in some sense is worse then to deny him It is to presume that he is not what we confess him to be Omnipotent and Omniscient It is a very high provocation and calls for Vengeance Because of Oaths the Land mourns as Jer. 23.10 Is in black as the word implies Perjury which is the addition of an Oath to a Lye is a great indignity and shall be followed with sore tho' sometimes slow punishment and a rash extrajudicial usage of the Divine name is as hurtful as fruitless 3. Thirdly they are to be a terrour to turbulent persons and contemners of Authority these are those that libel and bespatter a Prince that wound his Reputation which is the way to weaken his Government and invalidate his Laws Inviso semel Principe seu benè seu

St. Peter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Why dost thou necessitate the Gentiles c. All this Violence was in his Practice he laid no hands on them as St. Hierome notes That disease is most dangerous that begins at or comes from the head tall Trees by their droppings destroy all the Fruits about them the very deformities of great men are applauded and imitated as was seen in Alexander In an exalted condition the biggest offences are powerful as the Historian observes concerning Cajus Caligula And the Philosopher and Father tell us That men heeded more what Jupiter did then what Plato taught Vertuous living creates Veneration in the Spectators and Beholders Herod feared John knowing that he was a just and holy man Even those that will not follow and with their lips condemn the good yet secretly admire and absolve them I find no fault in this man saith Pilate when about to pass Sentence Whereas a sinful obscene life makes a man a companion and ranks him with the Basest it weakens his commands he cannot well be severe against what he is deeply ingaged in how can he clearly see to pull out the mote out of anothers eye that hath a beam in his own He can but faintly tax that which every one knows him subject to he is oblig'd to be and shew himself an adversary but how can he be shew himself so 4. Fourthly I shall in the fourth place shew what Rulers are to be observed that Magistrates may terrifie Evil-doers 1. First They must fairly search into things that come under their consideration sift out what is intricate not be prepossest and byast by plausible suggestions they must hear both sides patiently weigh matter of fact and skilfully determine about it It is said Prov. 25.2 That the honour of Kings is to search out a matter it advanceth their honour to decide nothing but after strict examination and give the clearest reasons of their proceedings and not be imposed upon by false colours and deceitful glosses which cunning wits are apt to put upon Causes that are brough● before them They are to try all to the bottom that they may make a full discovery They that give heed to every Story and accusation to every Calumny will quickly be intangled in errour There will never want slanderers to traduce their brethren and neighbours to forestal them by sliely instilling suspicions and jealousies there is nothing so base and sordid but some can put it into an handsome dress and mode 2. Secondly they must evidence their love to Justice and their Resolution not to recede from it When Solomon had made that prudent decision concerning the two women contending whose the living and dead Child was the conclusion is as in 1 Kings 3.28 And all Israel heard of the judgement which the King had judged and they feared the King for they saw that the wisdom of God was with him in the midst of him to do judgement Where there is no partiality no needless delays in Judgement when no evil doer can hope to escape nor innocent person fear to be opprest and depriv'd of what is his own there are Governors respected 3. Thirdly They must fear and serve God He will stand by them in his Service he will direct guide bless them he will as in 1 Chron. 28.20 be with them he will not fail nor forsake them And the Advice left to Solomon by David is as V. 9. And thou Solomon my son know thou the God of thy Father and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind for the Lord searcheth all hearts and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts c. 4. Fourthly They must be a refuge and Sanctuary to the helpless to them that are overcome by might God whom they represent whose receivers they are hath undertaken the protection and espoused the cause of the Fatherless of the Widow and the Poor they are as his menial Servants under a peculiar oversight which charge he hath committed to the Magistrates his Delegates These are to plead their causes they are to be eyes to the blind hands to the impotent feet to the lame shelter to all the needy against them that would wrong and devour them Behold and hear a singular pattern of Justice one of such integrity that thereby he got respect it is Job who Chap. 29.11 of the Book that goes under his name thus reports of himself When the ear heard me then it blessed me and when the eye saw me it gave witness to me because I delivered the Poor that cried and the Fatherless and him that had none to help him the blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me and I caused the widows heart to sing for joy c. He was honoured had his praise proclaimed because he was alwayes ready to listen to the complaints of the poor and of such as had none to take their parts when opprest He appeared on their side and lookt that none made a prey and preferment of them He brake the jaws of the wicked and pluckt the prey out of their Teeth he made them restore what they had snatcht and extorted by violence hence the worst of men stood in aw of him 5. Fifthly they must sue to God for assistance conduct It was wisdom and understanding gifts of Government that Solomon askt when he had leave to desire what he would when he had as it were a blank given him and behold God gave him riches and honour and all outward glorie in abundance as an over plus It is prudence courage uprightness knowledge ability that they are to be importunate for and use proper means that they may procure them They are soon over-reacht by flattery master'd by difficulties intangled by ignorance over-aw'd by greatness surpriz'd by craft if God concur not with them they are liable to temptations which they easily fall into unless he vouchsafe more then ordinary auxiliaries and advantages And we even for our own good are to beg of God that they may be rightly qualified for their imployment and sincere in the discharge of their Duty Thus we shall partake of the benefits There is a short Lesson for us in Num. 27. 16 17. Let the Lord the God of the Spirits of all flesh set men over the Congregation which may go out before them and which may go in before them c. that the Congregation of the Lord may not be as sheep without a shepheard we have another instance in 1 Chr. 29.19 We then do well pray That under them we may be Godly and quietly govern'd and that they may truly and indifferently minister justice to the punishment of wickedness and vice and to the maintenance of Gods true Religion and vertue 5. Fifthly I shall propound some perswasives to induce Magistrates to perform this duty namely to be a terrour to Evil-doers 1. First Thus they are true honest and beneficial to their great Master the Prince