consent He will not have the People acted like Machines or ridden as brute Beasts against their Wills but allows them the natural Liberty of Men to be Governed by their own free Choice and owns their concurrence for the Establishing of such their King For instance 1. David Tho' he were Anointed of God yet he never acted as King after Saul's Death till he was fully Established in his Throne by the mediate call of God the consent of the People 2 Sam. 2. 4. 1. Then the Men of Judah make him King at Hebron Still the House of Israel stand up zealously for Ishbosheth the Son of Saul their Lord and Master neither are they treated by the House of David as Rebels in that Seven years War between those two Competitors and the reason was David was never Established King in Israel all that time by the mediate call of God the consent of Israel as Ishbosheth was and therefore when Ishbosheth was Treacherously slain by his Two Captains the Sons of Rimmon and they officiously bring his Head to David He is so far from rewarding them for Executing Ch. 4. v. 2. Justice upon a Traitor that he gives Ishbosheth the Character of a Righteous Person which I see not Verse 11. how he could have done if David had been at that time King of Israel and dealt with the Assassinates just as he had before done with the Amalekite that slew Saul Ishbosheth's Verse 12. Father and yet there wanted nothing to have made David a King and Ishbosheth a Rebel but the Consent of the People of Israel which was presently given unto David upon the Death of Ishbosheth After he had made a League with them that is taking a Coronation Ch. 5. 3. Oath or promised them a temperate Reign the People of Israel also made him King Saul was immediately called of God to the Throne but yet I don't see him over-forward to make claim to the Government upon that call We find him coming after that not from his Pallace or the Council-Table attended with his Guard de Corps his 1 Sam. 11. 6. Band of Pensioners but as a Shepherd or Herdsman leading of his Sheep or driving his Oxen to Pasture staying till he should have an opportunity put into his Hands of approving himself a valiant Hero fit to go in and out before the People which the Ammonites did immediately by that bold affront they had provok'd him with which when he had so gloriously Revenged presently there was superadded to the immediate the mediate Call of God the Consent of the People They went to Gilgal and 1 Sam. 11. ult there they made Saul King 1 Kings 11. 29 30. Jeroboam is another instance 'T is true there was a Prophesie that Jeroboam should be King over Ten Tribes but this did not make him King upon Solomon's death and thefore he was too wary to jump into the Throne upon the right that Prophesie gave him but waits for the ordinaiy Call of God the Consent of the People having reason to conclude that God that had promised would so dispose of matters as to serve his Providence for the bringing it about in his good time Now observe by what a Chain of Providence he at last comes to obtain that Call the Peoples Consent All Israel go to Sichem to make Rehoboam King all this while here 's not the least thought of Jeroboam nay Jeroboam goes along with them to pay his respects to the 1 Kings 12. 1 3. Heir apparent there they transact with him for the administring Verse 15. the Government Justly and Righteously Well Rehoboam answers the People very hussingly he bids them depart and be gone commanding them together with Jeroboam to wait his pleasure Three days hence Jeroboam with the People obediently and peaceably depart he does not as yet snap at the Crown but Verse 12. waits till Providence by fair and regular ways set it upon his Head Jeroboam and the People come again the day appointed when he and the People receive but a very churlish answer from Rehoboam What meddle with his Prerogative offer to restrain his Sacred and Irresistible Tyranny such Vassals and Slaves to be so bold to present their Adresses and Petitions to the Son of Solomon He threatens them the higher tells them plainly he would Rule them as he pleased measure all right as one of our Kings did once the Yard-wand by the length of his own Arm he would gall them with his Yoak and flea them with V. 13. 14. his Scorpions This was infinitely more ingenuous then to flamm the People off with fair Promises Oaths and Protestations of a just and temperate Government which were never intended but as Sirens Songs to draw them securely upon the Rocks of danger Immediately the People think themselves fairly discharged Verse 15. of their Allegiance and set up Jeroboam King This act of Israel seems to be approved of God he owns it as from himself and charges a mighty Army raised for the reduction of Jeroboam to his Obedience to disband again without doing him any hurt So that Hushai said very well whom the Lord and 1 Kings 12. 24. the People and all the Men of Israel shall chuse his 2 Sam. 16. 18. will I be Agreeable to that of Moses thou shalt set him to be Deut. 77. 14 15. King over thee whom the Lord shall chuse which plainly shews that notwithstanding God's immediate Call and he hath chosen a Person to be King he yet requires a concurrence of that Call that is ordinary the Consent of the People for setting him in the Throne thou shalt set up him whom the Lord shall chuse But we are told by some that this Hypothesis would make Government precarious to let the People know they are so necessary for the modelling of it 't will make them resty and wanton with their Rulers if they displease them never so little that 't is another Faux with his Lanthorn ready to give fire to a train of Powder and blow up all But I hope this fright will soon be over if we assure them we never yet supposed the People that gave could resume the Government though if a Governour abandon his Government by taking up another inconsistent with it that is if he takes up a Government by Will and so quits the Government by Law which by the way is the Government of our Constitution I conceive the People are not only at liberty but under the obligation of the Law of Nature to provide for themselves To me its one of the greatest inducements to believe the truth of this Doctrine that political Authority is derived from God by the Consent of People that it is certainly the only means to preserve Government and keep it steddy without tottering or shaking Had that Doctrine been inculcated upon the minds of Princes that they are originally from the People and therefore are to Rule according to such
SERMON Preacht at the Cathedral Church IN NORWICH Upon the 11th of April 1696 The DAY of His Majesties CORONATION By HENRY MERITON Rector of Oxborough in Norfolk LONDON Printed and are to be Sold by Eliz Whiâ—â—â—ck near Stationers-Hall 1696. 1 Sam. X. 24. And Samuel said unto all the People see ye him whom the Lord bath chosen that there is none like him among the People and all the people shouted and said God save the King IN the 8th Chapt. V. 5. the People of Israel repair Ch. 8. V. 5. to Ramah to the Prophet Samuel and very pertly demand a King At which he could not but express a just resentment not because the desire of a King was sinful for God Almighty V. 6. Dent. 17. 15. had long since promised them one But Gen. 49. 10. 1. The Demand was out of Season they are impatient till the Promise had gone its full time and so like over-hasty Midwives spoil the Birth and turn it into a curse to them presently make us a King say they 2. The Manner was very impetuous and peremptory they come strutting up to God's Deputy Samuel not with an Humble Petition but with a menacing Remonstrance q. d. know that a King we will have and therefore make us one for there shall be one else whether you v. 19. will or no. 3. They sinned in bearing such a fond affection to the Nations Fashion to which they were not to be conformable at all Have not all the neighbour Nations Kings to rule Num. 23. 9. them and must we be like no body They seem not at all to be solicitous about the Religion of their King any more then others if they have but a King if he comes with whole Troops of Priests of Baal never so profest an Idolator resolving to force them to his Idol Sacrifice no matter what God they have so they have a King 4. Their sin was a foolish piece of Infidelity in quitting V. 20. the Divine Protection of which they had had so fresh Experience in the former Chapter instead of a Cedar in Lebanon they run under the shadow of a Bramble instead of an Almighty Arm they catch hold upon an Arm that as the Scripture says hath neither Sinew nor Bone in it an Arm of Flesh This might well stir up the Prophet's Indignation to see the Great God of Heaven as it were Abdicated of his own People Well Samuel is commanded to comply with them they shall have a King see how frightfully he describes him from Verse 11 to 18. I know some Interpret the Mispat here to be a Patent for the Arbitrary Power of Princes and think themselves obliged from this Scripture very Loyally to offer their Sheep Fields and Vineyards Men-Servants and Maid-Servants Sons and Daughters as a Sacrifice to that Bell and Dragon of absolute Prerogative as if the Case of Bathsheba and Naboath were but the just Exercise of Kingly Power and this Text were a Warrant for it Ch. 10. 25. Thanks be to God we have other Rules of Government Ch. 10. 25. Rules not from the Extempore dictates and wills of Princes but Laws to be written in a Book laid up before the Lord in the Sanctuary as the Fundamental Constitutions and Magna Charta of their Ezek. 45. 9. 46. 18. Nation by which they were to be Governed as Deut. 17. 15 16 17. So then these Verses seem only to be a Description of the manner of the King they ask a King according to the Fashion of their Neighbour Nations Now we know in those Eastern Countries they were all as they are still Arbitrary and Despotick and such some of theirs proved to their Cost God therefore does not here reach them out a benefit Hos 13. 11. but as it were hurls a King to them in his wrath Hos 13. 11. Saul himself though no doubt he were a Man of rare Abilities and Virtues for the first quinquennium See whom the Lord hath chosen there is none like him c. yet afterwards the sweetness and mildness of his Government soured into Tyranny In the Text we have Three things The Choice of God The Character of the King The Approbation of the People Exprest in an unanimous acclamation God save the King First God's Choice In the former Chapter we find Saul very Solicitous for his Fathers Asses and being reduced to extream despair of finding them bethinks himself of a Prophet that perhaps might tell him some tidings of them a specimen of his rustick Education to repair to a Prophet of God as common People do to a Wizard to help them to their Goods again Ch. 9. V. 15. Samuel is made acquainted with his coming v. 17. and commanded by God to Anoint him he tells him this is the Man whom he had Chosen Hereupon after some decent Ceremonies of his Entertainment on one side and modest Excuses on the other he Anoints him to be King Secondly The Character of the King There was none Ch. 10. â— like him among the People Ch. 10. 10 11 24. gives him an ample Testimony Besides That he was a goodly Person of a Portly and Majestick Meen that became a King he was endowed with other Moral Virtues that might render him a most accomplisht Prince 1. Humility and Modesty a lowly Mind in a lofty State by how much the more rare and difficult it is it 's the more excellent and praise-worthy The Great ones of the Earth the lower they are as the Stars of Heaven they shew the greater How Modestly does he Excuse and even Blush at the offer of a Crown Am not I a Benjamite the smallest of the Tribes and my family the least of that Tribe too Wherefore then speakest thou thus to me Ch. 9. 21. A Ch. 9. V. 21. Kingdom to me whose Birth and Education forbid me any higher hopes then a Countrey Farm Ch. 10. 22. Being taken by Lot he runs away from a Scepter and hides himself in an heap of Stuff he flies from a Kingdom while it pulsues him and used all Arts he could to escape a Throne 2. He was endowed with Courage and Magnanimity a proper Virtue for a King that 's to go in and out before his People to be their Chiestain Ch. 11. We have an undeniable instance of his Heroick Spirit when Nahash the Ammonite durst make so dishonourable offers of Peace to Jabesh Gilead no ways to be V. 2. obtained but at the price of their Eyes The Men of Israel as if all had been Metamorphosed into the other Sex when they should have list up their Sword and Fought they list up their Voices and Wept so excessively V. 4. as if they would have saved the Ammonites the labour of putting them out by their Weeping Saul comes out of the Field astonisht at such an Effeminacy V. 5. What 's the business says he what means this whuling and crying among the People As soon as they
had told him the Melancholy Story the Spirit of God came upon Saul a Spirit of Fortitude V. 6. and Courage V. 6. His Blood boils over in his Veins he cann't forbear expressing the most angry Resentment and that by the oddest and unusual kind of Emblem when he Summoned the People to his Assistance by sending Mammocks of slaughtered Oxen about the Countrey with a plain Comment upon 't So shall be done to those that shall deny their assistance till we revenge the infamy V. 7. Verse 7. See immediately his brave Soul was able to animate the whole Body of the Israelites People quite dead before into Life and Vigour and The fear of the Lord came upon them and they came out with one consent V. 7. 3. He was endowed with Wisdom this is such a Princely accomplishment that Solomon desires no more to go in and out before that great People Ch. 11. We have a notable instance of his Martial Skill in Mustering such an Army so suddenly and unsuspected of the Ammonites in assaulting their Camp at the Morning watch which put them into confusion and the day dawning immediately must help them to prosecute the Victory as also in Marshalling the Army into Three Bands so hemming them in and encompassing them on every side that none of them escaped V. 11. 4. He was endowed with Mercy and Clemency this is the Glory of our Heavenly King whose Mercy is over all his Works Ch. 10. 27. He gives us such an instance of his Clemency as is not easie to be parallel'd There were Men of Belial in those days too that muttered and murmured at the God of Heaven that he had made no better choice for them is this the man that must save us among so many Men of Honour and Experience must such a Man as he be put upon us for our General Yet he was none of the scum and dregs of the People neither for his Father was a man of substance as the Original Ch. 9. 1. hath it Ah pettish and fretful People whom the Almighty God could not please in his Choice but now in a scornful flere they toss up their Noses at him as some do at a Dutch man What follows But he held his peace passes by the affront with as much disdain as 't was offered This spoke him a Person of such temper and moderation as made him fit to command others who knew so well how to govern himself Again When some in a transport of Zeal for their Captain upon the signal Victory he had gained over the Ammonites cried out Who is he that said Saul shall not rule over us bring out the man that we may put him to death No says Saul there shall not a man be put to death to day for this day hath the Lord wrought Salvation Those scurrilous detractors he spares them being Israelites as an unreasonable Sacrifice upon such a day of Jubilee for Israels Salvation he thought it more glorious then to kill his Enemies thus to Conquer their Enmity 5. In fine He was furnish't with all those Virtues that were to be desired in a Prince according to the Prophesie Ch. 10. V. 6. The spirit of the Lord shall come upon thee and thou shalt be turned into another Man from a Countrey Swain into a Courtier and Polititian from a Muleteer to a Lord General 3. Israels Approbation exprest in an unanimous Acclamation God save the King And must I have the Honour to be instead of a Samuel to present another King to you this day a King whom the Lord hath Chosen a King that hath none like him among the People I doubt not but your thoughts have prevented me it being so easie and obvious to find him out it is King William higher by the Head and Shoulders then Saul himself in all Princely Virtues a King whom I am assured the Lord hath Chosen a King who hath none to compare to him among the People and therefore deserves the same approbation and acclamation from you God save the King 1. I shall make it evident he hath been called to Govern us by the voice of God that God hath chosen him I know there have been a sort of Men that have prest this jure divino Doctrine to very untoward services having never had right notions of this principle in their Heads they have held wretched and dangerous inferences from it the faster with their Teeth when if rightly understod it means no mischeif unto Churches and States but is rather a stay and support to them That his present Majesty was invested with the Soveraignty over us by the unanimous consent of Peers and People I think none will deny So that when I have made it appear that the consent of the People is God's Voice and ordinary call to the political Authorities that are set up in the World The Conclusion will be easie from those Premises that his present Majesty hath been chosen of God and hath a right to the Crown he wears I own there is an immediate Call such as the call of Saul David Jehu some Prophet hath been sometimes directed by an immediate voice from God go and anoint me Saul David Jehu this is that choice or call that is not at all pretended to Again There is a Call that is ordinary and immediate I know no other nor any Body else I suppose but the consent of the People 'T is no hard matter to find instances of a Divine Authority conveyed by the consent of Men Marital Authority is Divine yet fixt upon the Person by the Womans free choice so the Authority of Masters over Servants yet the Person is determined by Compact and Agreement 1. I shall lay down some reasons to prove that this is now God's ordinary way of setting up political Governments in the World 2. I shall prove That political Authority over us can come no other way into the World but by such a consent 3. I shall give you some instances both Profane and Sacred of Governments in the World that God has evidently thus set up 1. I shall lay down my reasons c. 1. Then Doth not right reason which is a dictate of the Law of Nature which is certainly the voice of God direct Men into Society It had almost like to have gone for a desinition of Man animal sociabile and the Sacred Text tells us 't is not good for Man to be alone and must not the same voice of God necessarily direct them to put themselves Vid. Puffend p. 898. 1. 6. f. 3. Sect. 10. under some political Government or other for their preservation Sure the Reverend and Judicious Hooker conceived this Doctrine that Government arose from the consent of the People to be almost self-evident and an undoubted Principle and therefore takes the liberty to assert it very confidently without much proving of it He tells you it is impossible it should be otherwise and if afterwards any worthy Men
seem to favour the contrary Opinion such as the deservedly Celebrated Saunderson and Vsher it was when they saw a King so coursely handled by his People and the just Prerogative forced to vail and make court to every Buff-coat Mechanick In the heat of opposition they might strain the point too far and to set the stick right bend it so much on the other side Had they lived in our days I doubt not but these good Men would either have renounc't their Doctrine if yet it were their Doctrine or explain'd it to Mr. Hooker's sense 2. Methinks again it 's very natural to conceive when People began to multiply into such a number as to overstock that portion of that vast Common of the World their first Plantation they should as Bees streightned for room swarm and look for a new Hive Now as soon as they begin to settle there I pray what must be done by them to keep them from the disorder of the state of Nature where every one is Judge and King equal and independent upon one another as to any political Subjection they could owe to one another Must they stand gazing to Heaven for a Governour to be sent from thence to them with all his implements of Arbitrariness even the Yoak and Pack-saddle for the working and loading of the Beast as also the Curb and the Barnacle to tame him with if he kick Or Must they be like those Men that sprung from Cadmus's Teeth fall a killing one another or fall to cutting of Throats for the Government Would not Right reason which is the voice of God as before direct them to place a supream Authority upon some or other of themselves to be an umpire of their Controversies and keep them in peace according to such measures and limitations as were thought fittest for the attaining the ends of Government the Preservation of the People Even in absolute Monarchies where People put the greatest trust in Kings they can yield up no Power but to those great Ends and if they have unwarily contracted to other purposes it is ipso facto Null being contrary to the obligation of a superiour Law the Law of Nature which is the Law of God whose chief end is the preservation of the People And thus it will be plain without vexing the Scripture with strained interpretations how Government can be an Ordinance of God according to St. Paul and yet an human Rom. 13. 2. Creature according to St. Peter 1 Pet. 2. 13. Because God makes use of this human means the consent of the People for setting up Governments in the World so that the Supream Power in Common-wealths comes though by Men yet not from Men but from God's Command exprest by the Law of Nature or right Reason to promote the good and safety of Mankind Thus also all the Objections against the incapacity of the People to confer the power of Life and Death not being vested with such an Authority themselves are easily answered this Power of Life and Death being from God though by the People as much as the Government is For the same Law of Nature which as I have said is the Law of God that directs Men to put the Government must also direct them to put such a Power into the Rulers hands as might enable him to attain the ends of Government which he could not do if he had not Power over the lives of his Subjects in some Cases 2. I shall prove to you that 't is impossible that political Government should ordinarily arise from any other source but this There are but these 4 or 5 ways that offer at any plausible competition 1. Paternity 2. The divine Donation to the Heir of Adam 3. Providence 4. Conquest 5. Prescription But I shall prove none of these Five can be the Foundations of political Authority 1. Not Paternity for 1. That 's no Obedience to a political Authority unless by way of Analogy that 's enjoyned in the 5th Command if it were so I see not but such an Authority might derive from maternity as well as paternity the same honour being to be given to the Mother by that Command that 's to be given to the Father unless we have a Salique Law against the Fifth Commandment 2. Paternal Authority is but of a short Duration being only necessary to Discipline and govern the weakness of the Child in Non-age till he be arrived at the use of his Reason to guide himself though a filial Reverence and Honour ought to continue indispensably till Death 3. Political and paternal Authority are vastly different for the Son may be a political Head to his Father while his Father hath a Paternal Authority over him as is evident in the instance of my Lord Darnly and King James as also in Kish and Saul 4. If political Authority arose from Paternity it could extend no surther then Paternity a relation founded upon Paternity cannot be transferred but you must transfer its foundation the same Paternity with it and so your Governour must be your natural Father as well as your King 5. If political Authority arose from Paternity every Father would be a King and so we should have Kings enough Every Town would not only be an Heptarchy but an Hecatontarchy if there were so many Families there I won't deny but Fathers might be the first Monarchs of the World when Children were Men and so out of the state of pupillage they were like enough to submit to their Fathers as their Law-makers and Governours the Father must sure be fittest to be trusted with such a charge Paternal affection must engage him to have a tender regard to the Properties of his Children He also may be supposed to be endowed with greater Wisdom and to be furnish't with a larger Estate that might fit him for the more chargeable parts of Government Besides the custom of commanding them when Children made it an easie transition from Paternal to Political Authority and therefore right reason might direct the Children to such a Choice and from thence Paternal Authority passes into Political and so though Fathers might be Kings yet they were not so as Fathers 2. Political Authority cannot arise from the Divine Donation to the Heir of Adam 1. For then we should be left in great perplexity who that Heir should be whether Daughters or Brothers or younger Sons Sons should wear the Crown in case of Competition with 100 other Difficulties we should be entangled in that are not determined in Scripture Besides We could certainly have but one King in the World The Kings of the Earth I believe will give them but little thanks for this Doctrine for it dismounts them all but one and sends them to Plow nay that one I fear will be in danger too who can derive his Pedigree perhaps no more from Adam then a Cromwel or a Massaniello Besides if it were our good Fortune to find out this Heir all the Kings of the Earth were bound to
cast their Crowns at his Feet if he were a Page or a Link-Boy 3. Political Authority cannot arise from Providence for Providence though it orders every thing yet it ordinarily Authorizes nothing it 's rather the disposer of things and actions then their Rule and Measure 4. Political Authority cannot arise from Conquest for besides that this Principle hath met with a warm Confutation Slavery is so contrary to the genius of an English Man that when I have heard some Men eagerly defend that Conquest is the Foundation of our Government I have rather thought it an Exercise of Wit as was his that wrote a Panegyrick upon Nero then in good earnest Good God! that Men should sweat and toil so to hammer out Fetters for themselves and be so zealous to propagate a Doctrine of the Divine Right of Slavery Nor 5thly Can Prescription it self give title to an injurious Conquerour as it is Prescription a long continuance in Sin being its greatest aggravation but either as Prescription is Authorized by the Customs and Constitutions of Nations which to be sure implies Consent or as such an Uninterrupted and Undisturbed continuance of the Power infers the quiet and voluntary Submission of the People to it A Man would be ready to believe that those that go about to lay such Foundations of Government as are before-mentioned had a spight against it and designed the fall of it while they set up such weak and rotten Principles to support it And thus having shewn how it s morally impossible that Government should ordinarily come into the World any other way then this whatever hath been offered by any I have considered one would think this might save me any farther labour yet to satisfie the unreasonable importunities of some I shall shew you some Instances both Profane and Sacred of several Governments in the World that God hath set up by the Peoples consent 1. Profane The Common-wealth of Venice had its Rise from hence when they were broke in pieces by the Incursions of the Hunns they gather the broken Splinters together and presently according to the dictates of the Law of Nature rig themselves up into a new Common-wealth in an inaccessible Nest of Islands casting themselves under that Government they now flourish under 2. Great Rome was beholding to this Beginning for her Government while People flockt from every Quarter unto Romulus a bold enterprising Captain willing to share in the success of his Adventures People that Dionys Halicar l. 2. sub initio Justin l. 3. owed him no Obedience till they voluntarily put themselves under his Authority 3. I would know how the Parthenii fell into Government at Tarentum they were the base born off-spring of the Spartan Dames begotten in absence of their Husbands in a tedious War whom when they returned they packt away to seek their Fortunes some where else To be sure not one of them had Authority over another by the Law of Nature being all illegitimate how I say did they fall into Government there but by consent Unless we should conceive that after a long time dancing upon the wide Ocean as Epicurus his Atomes in an infinite space by good Fortune they Rendezvouzed upon the Coast of Italy and by mere chance and without any Design or Contrivance at all they did coalesce into a Body Politick and at adventure jumble themselves into a Government that once gave such a trouble to the Roman Greatness 4. The Carthaginian State owes her Original from hence The Phenicians flying from the rage of the Eastern Monarchs roaming up and down to find a calmer Climate happened upon the Coast of Africa where they by Consent erected a very formidable Common-wealth that once shook the Capitol We read not that they had either King or Senate with them but what they made 5. And why may it not be supposed that the Saxons being a Free People having Conquered this Island should by their own free Consent set over themselves a King I don't remember that ever there was a settled King of the Saxons or that he came over into this Island much less that Seven did so So that if there were Seven Kings here they must be made so by the People upon mutual Compacts and Agreements Those Seven Kings being antecedently Free from any Obligation to take such a charge upon them how came they to be obliged to Minister Justice and defend the People but by their voluntary consent In like manner How came the People who were Free before from any Obligation to obey them as their Kings to be obliged to it but by their own Consent and why not according to such measures as these The King to Govern by known Laws none of which to be made but by the Consent and Concurrence of the People either by Themselves or Representatives that they should all be called his Laws run in his Name and all should be bound to obey him in obeying them when they are thus Establish't c. Why may we not suppose this to be the Original of our Government I am sure no History can give us the birth of these Constitutions and therefore they must be owned to be from the beginning Neither doth this make every Monarchy Elective for the People might Elect a Monarchy to be Hereditary and so though the Monarchy be Elected it ought not to be called an Elective Monarchy If it should be further objected that Conquest and Usurpation exclude the consent of the People the Reply is obvious God in the ordinary course of his Providence confers the Authority in those Cases either by a previous consent of the People or their subsequent submission Neither can such a consent be counted the effect of force though a consequent of it but the genuine product of right Reason which constrains the People since they must be preserved and that cannot be without a Government to set up such an one as they can when they cannot such an one as they would even that of the Conquerour himself while he assures them he will Govern them according to the Laws of the Constitution 2. My next instances are from Scripture 1. The People of the Land took Jehoaz and made him 2 Kings 23. 30. King immediately after Josiah's Death though he was not the eldest neither as is evident 2. Zimri indeed sets himself up to be King which though it was according to the word of the Lord against Baasha yet not being done in God's own way by the 1 Kings 16. 1. 9 10. see v. 20. see 16. consent of the People of Israel is called Treason and all Israel regularly dethrone the Traitor and make Omri King Nay God Almighty seems to be so tender of infringing this natural Right of the People though he might surely have imposed a Government upon them pro imperio yet where he himself had Anointed a Person to be a King he is pleased not to suffer him to execute that Authority over the People without their
all our Israel render the most Cordial and Conscientious Obedience to him whom God hath chosen as one therefore that hath a Right to the Crown he wears I hope I have sufficiently proved this Point besides this Doctrine hath lately had the Westminster Stamp upon it and therefore now I trust it may go for currant I am sure the contrary that the King is not chosen of God and hath no Right to his Crown if it be not Treason yet is the Mother of it that Mother that lately went big with so many Granvils Fawkes Parryes and Throgmortons Clements and Ravilliacs but blessed be God the Monster miscarried The Nation seems at last to have the same Sence of the Mischievous Consequence of this Principle and therefore have justly arraigned and condemned it in their Associations Doth it not plainly follow from the Point proved that His present Majesty is chosen of God that we should rendeâ— the most Cordial Obedience to him as one that hath Right to Rule us Should we warily suspend and hover till Success and Victory satisfie our Tender Consciences and resolve our Doubts Should we only submit to him as a King de facto for Wrath till Opportunity offer it self to pay our Duty to another supposed de Jure for Conscience-sake Which is a Becket's Obedience Salvo jure Papae Should we shelter our selves under the shadow of his Government and creep into his Bosom only for Warmth and Vigour to sting him as soon as we dare Should we take Oaths to such a King as weak Stomachs do a Potion which we are ready to throw up again immediately or as an Amulet and Charm to keep off Danger Should we make it our business to damp and cool Mens Zeal to such a Government When we had one on the Throne too great a Friend to Popery God knows How were we then for the Divine Right of Government what a general Out-cry was there through the Nation for the great Diana of Absolute Prerogative Non-resistance Soveraign Power above Law Irresistable Tyranny we were ready to spit Hell-fire and Damnation in the Faces of every one that opposed And when some went about to remove a Popish Successor then the indefeasable and Divine Right of Succession is the Theme other Sins escape without much notice while Sacrilege Rebellion and Treason are the Wild Beast let loose to be chased and hunted down by us Do but mention a Bill of Exclusion all our Beacons are set on Fire as if Geneva and Scotland were pouring in upon us whole Hosts of Classes and Lay-Elders Presently we are deafned with the noise of 41 and Thousands of ghastly Spectrums are conjured up to scare little Children with for I dare say few wise Men were concerned at them But now that we have a Protestant King who when Popery was rushing in upon us hath thrown himself into that Flood to stem the Torrent with his naked Breast Good God what a cold â—it hath been upon us to assert his Government If a Man hath been never so little warm in the Justification of His Majesty he must be sure to run the Gantlope and to indure almost a St. Stephen's Martyrdom to be pelted with Stones or words almost as hard How have the Discreet and the Wise been applauded the Men of Temper and Moderation Hoc Ithacus velit There 's a Gentleman in the World that cares not how Soft and Moderate we are I warrant you I hope the late execrable Treason hath chafed our Zeal into a warmer Temper at last So that we shall not only yield our Obedience to His present Majesty for Conscience-sake as to one that hath a Right to govern us being chosen of God but with a Zeal suitable to the present Importance of the Duty 2. Let us pour out our Hearty Thanksgivings unto God that hath not only given us such a Ruler upon the Fifth of November but given him again to us by dashing that Murderous Design against him on the 21st of February This was a Design so plain and evident that it is not capable of a Sham no Meal-Tub or Presbyterian Plot can be devised to ballance it no Youths from St. Omers can be gotten to out-face it the most frontless Impudence begins to be ashamed of it and they whose Foreheads were hard enough to baffle the Design of 78 seem somewhat to blush at this of 95. This was again a Design so Mischievous to take away the Light of our Eyes and the Breath of our Nostrils They had obtained one part of Nero's Wish for all the People of England had morally but one Neck and they had like to have obtained the other to have cut it off at a Blow if the Almighty had not with-held them Those Artificers of the Church of Rome will be ashamed sure to see themselves out-done in their own Craft by our new Workmen in Iniquity to see a Modern Villany so far exceed their old Jesuitical patterns and faced with such an impudence as only became their Fraternity when they had Travelled with Iniquity as the Psalmist says and brought forth Falshood and the bloodiest Designs that ever was contrived to be done by Day-light They had the boldness to lay the Monster at Heavens Gates and invite the Holy God to answer for it teling him plainly 't was his Cause that what they did was for him and his Religion Ah pudet haec dici potuisse That such an horrible thing should ever be committed in our Land This was so Bloody and Barbarous a Design that the Fifth of November seems to be jealous she should lose the honour of precedence They have stretched out their Hands but as the Psalmist says None of the men of might have found them At the instant when they should have struck the blow God sends a Cramp into them and down drops the bloody Sword and le ts loose a Tormentor upon some of their Consciences that never left stinging and lashing them with Terrors till they drove them to his Majesty's Feet crying out Non possum occidere Marium Sir I can't kill you and from that wrack they discover all Though some of the Party have Armed their Consciences with such a Callus that the Guilt of such a Treason could not be able to fix a Sting upon them or make them in the least sensible For God's sake let it not be Reported that Three Clergy Men of the Church of England should assist them to put on that Armour of Hell just when they were to encounter the King of Terrours and step into an Eternal State Ah tell it not in Gath publish it not in the Streets of Askelon least the Daughters of the Uncircumcised Philistins Triumph notwithstanding some of them have contest the Villany and I hope repented of it so that the snare is broken by the Snare-makers themselves and blessed be God we are Delivered Great God What Thanksgivings are due to thee for this Deliverance that contains in it so many Deliverances a Deliverance of our Laws Liberties Properties Lives and that which is dearer still our Bibles What Heart can be big enough to receive the Joy of it What Voices can be loud enough to sing thy Praises for it Shall we call to Heaven in Holy David's Rapture Psal 148. 2. to the Holy Angels to assist us with theirs while we are singing our Te Deums and Magnificats or shall we pause a while till we our selves be admitted into their Quire when our Harps shall be better Strung and our Voices more in Tune to joyn with them in that Anthem Rev. 5. 13. Blessing and Honour Glory and Power be unto him that sitteth on the Throne and to the Lamb for ever and ever In the mean time What shall we render unto God our Flocks and Herds are too scant a Sacrifice whole Lebanon will not be sufficient for Burnt-Offerings Let 's offer up our selves our Souls and Bodies as a living holy acceptable Sacrifice which is our reasonable Service let 's resolve as David truly Lord we will be thy Servants and this God shall be our God unto Death 3. Let 's pray for him whom the Lord hath chosen as the Israelites did here for Saul Le ts thus hold up his heavy Hands now that he 's going forth to Fight the Amalekites let 's fire all our Spiritual Artillery against that Agag as the Christians did against Julian when he sought against the Persians Let 's Petition for him as the Church did for David the Lord bless him in the day of his trouble the Name of the God of Jacob defend him send him help from the Sanctuary and strengthen him out of Sion Let 's pray That he may have health of Body length of Days Loyal Subjects Powerful Fleets and Armies Faithful Allies Success and Victory over his Enemies the stability of his Righteous Throne in this World and the Possession of a Crown of Righteousness in the World to come I hope there is none of us will yet continue so morose and sullen but as the Murmuring Israelites did at last being sufficiently satisfied with the Wisdom of God's Choice that there was not such another to be found among the People will joyn with us in the common Shout and Acclamation God Save King WILLIAM FINIS