Application Let the Authority of this Doctrine fall and fix upon your hearts this day remembring Psal 81.2 that God standeth which is a posture of greater attention and he attends in order to his judging of you therefore have your eye upon God as his is upon you Be in the fear of the Lord all this day Prov. 23.17 So acknowledge God in giving and taking Magistracy that he may approve your proceeding and let every heart lift up a cry to the Lord almost in Moses words Numb 27.16 Let the Lord the God of the spirits of all flesh set a man and men over the Congregation which may go out before them and which may go in before them and which may lead them and which may bring them in that the Congregation of the Lord be not as sheep which have no Shepherd Motive 1. It concerns as to be owned in the proceedings of this day else the business of the day will not be for our safety Ier. 5.10 Go ye up upon her Walls and destroy and take away her battlements for they are not the Lords If our Magistrates set up for our Protection be not owned by the Lord they will not be any protection any enemy heathen or called christian hath a dormant Commission to come upon you and destroy you though not with utter destruction Motive 2. Magistraticall Power is of great weight and worth especially among Gods people therefore with great consideration to be made over and managed by them that have it Psal 113.8 That he may set him with Princes even with the Princes of his people This very much heightens their honour and so God tells David 2 Sam. 7.8 I took thee from the sheep coate to be Ruler over my people over Israel Pericles being often chosen Pretor of Athens every year when he put on his Robe would bespeak himself remember thou rulest over Freemen thou rulest over Athenians yet Christ bespeaks you that rule here have a care what you do for ye rule over my Children Ioh. 19 8. When Pilate heard that saying viz. that Christ was the Son of God he was the more afraid he was the more awed and they that are in Authority here had as much need as any where to hearken to that Psal 2.10 Serve the Lord with fear rejoyce with trembling It is spoken to Magistrates ye may willingly and chearfully serve the Lord iâ— that capacity of doing good to his people but tremble lest ye miscarry if ye do them any wrong ye are sure to hear of it Psal 105.14 15. He â—uffered no man to do them wrong yea he reproved Kings for their sake saying touch not mine anointed and do my Prophets no harm If you touch his people harmfully or put power into the hands of such as will so touch them you touch the apple of Gods eye Zâ—ch 2. he will not bear that wrong to them that he will upon another people no not although it be slâ—ly and by way of fraud and not by way of open violence for that was the cause of Midian against whom the Lord gives that charge Numb 31.3 Let them go against the Midianites and avenge the Lord of Midian Motive 3. All your Administrations must come ere long under judgement ye that are Freemen must shortly be free among the dead and that then your work and secret dâ—sign whether good or bad must come to judgement Eccl. 12. ult and ye that shall be chosen Psal 82.6.7 Though you be all of you Children of the mâ—st â—â—â—h or Angels as Chalde renders it yet ye must dye like Adam Socrates writes to Dyonisius thou art yet clothed with a mortal skin and if ye dye then follows the Judgement act ye therefore so this day as ye may answer it boldly in that It was the honour of Marcellus that he went from the Tribunal to the Bar and it is the Law of necessity upon you all if not here yet else where to give an account of your Administration now if any of you upon these Motives are willing in your giving or taking Magistratical power to do it according to Gods will offer you some means so to do Means 1. Minde the reallizing of your-profession of God and take heed of Apostacy in the two verses before the Text we have Israels boasting and breaking of their Covenant with God Israel shall cry unto me my God we know thee but this is no better then to compass God with lyes Hos 11. ult For Israel hath cast off the thing that is good the Enemy shall pursue him If we do thus lye to God in N. E. we go against the interest of N. E. as hath been faithfully declaredon such a day as this Mr. Stoughton If you cast off good you cannot so cast off evil evil will follow you if you follow not that which is good when your Religion is but a pretence a lye it will never last a lye is never long-lived howsoever you sawn upon God or his people ye can never really love either by outward fleshly circumcision alone when ye are only as the same Messenger said custome born Deut. 30.6 there 's need of the Lords own circumcizing your hearts and the hearts of your seed as he is really your God in Covenant that you may love him and his interest with all your heart If ye have this heart circumcision heart-baptisme then you will cleave to him and his people whether ye be chusing or chosen into power otherwise not Prov. 24. ult the upright is an abomination unto the wicked His natural Fore skin the enmity of his carnal minde will upon any ripening temptation break out he that hath but the form not the power of godliness will not like to have godliness in power they that are not indeed Freemen though so called are servants 2 Pet. 2.19 to corruption and must serve such purposes which was owned by some Philosophers Cic. 5. Paradox who laid down this Paradox so that many would think it all wise men are Freemen and all fools are Servants such then having a liberty to chuse will in the use of it serve corrupt men and not the holy God neither will unsound Professors serve the Lord in the manner of that Authority they get and therefore Job 17.8 The innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite and God intending mercy to a people will help such opposition Iob 34.30 That the Hypocrite reign not lest the people be ensnared such will lay secret and subtile snares for the people whom God in pitty will deliver therefrom As for you in N. E. to backslide and to fashion your selves to the flaunting mode of England in worship or walking you undertake a vain thing for you can but limp after them and you will forget as was told you the last year by that Reverend Elder your errand of Planting this Wilderness Mr Danforth and if you have a minde to turn your Churches into Parishes and your Ministers into
Priests and Prelates I cannot think the Lord will ever endure it as Ezek. 20.32 That which cometh into your minde shall not be at all that ye say we will be as the Families of the Countries The Lord that hath so marvelously separated and distinguished this people for himself will not so lose his propriety here and know ye that your backsliding will not only be vanity but vexation also for this ye will lose the good ye have had Hos 4.7 As they were increased so they sinned against me therefore will I change their glory into shame If ye grow more provoking as more populous that which hath been the glory of N. E. Magistracy and Ministry will be its shame If ye rebel and vex his holy Spirit acting in them that anointing will be gone Isai 63.10 11. Where is he that brought them up out of the Sea with the shepherd of his flock where is he that put his holy spirit within them Ye will have Magistrates and Ministers of a meaner alloy yea happily for your Hypocrisie and Apostacy being false to Christ as was Iudas you will have that plague Psal 109.6 A wicked man set over you and an adversary shall stand at your right hand Evil will certainly befal you as Iosh 6.26 Ioshua laid the builders of accursed destroyed Iericho under a curse so will our Jesus bring a Curse upon those that shall go about to build Iericho the City of the Moon so it signifies the Kingdome of the Beast which being an earthly worldly Religion Lunenburge is reckoned by the Moon Rev. 11. But blessed are they that resist and crush the least beginnings and breed of Babylon be they will-worship persecution or confusion Blessed I say are those that will dash their brats against the Rock even Christ the sure and tried Stone Yea in case ye backslide from the God of your Fathers ye will be as it were out-lawed and expo ed as a free spoil to every enemy Ier. 50.7 All that found them have devoured them and their adversaries said we offend not because they have sinned against the Lord the habitation of justice even the Lord the hope of their Fathers and from such will ye be most likely to have your scourge from whom you have your apostacy as Israel returning to the Idols of Mesopotamia from whence their Ancestors Abraham and Jacob had separated were first put into the hand of the King of Mesopotamia Iudg. 3.8 and think not what I say is impertinent to the Doctrine or the day for in the civil Government The first worthy Planters they professed to erect and administer according to God and if you that succeed will do according to your lust it will go ill with you the gallant Gideon saith Iud. 8.20 I will not rule over you neither shall my Son rule over you but the Lord shall rule over you this did that worthy Father promise but the Bastard Son will needs break to the ruine of himself and his partakers If a degenerate and spurious Generation will not stand by the intendments and engagements of their faithful Ancestors but in their giving and exercising rule neglect the Lord he will ruine them and their helpers Means 2. Minde faith fully and diligently your liberties that ye may be free to act for and according to God in the constitution and manage of your Magistracy quit once your liberties and ye mu t have such a Magistracy manage of it as will please not God nor your selves but other men will be your masters for servants yea slaves must you be to some body when ye have let go your liberties now to fix you in maintaining your liberties I crave liberty to propound some Motives Motive 1. It is a trust and favour of God that ye have such liberties Psa 118.14 This is the day that the Lord hath made or exalted This your day of free Election is preforable before all your own dayes if we marre it not for ought we know there is no such day in other Colonies abroad and we may say as follows we will rejoyce and be glad in it the more we are engaged for such a day because we have not deserved it but as Saul after his wickedness to David and Davids kindness to him in spring him when he had advantage 1 San. 24.19 This day thou hast made me as the Hebrew saith your liberty then being the gift of such a band even of the Lord let no hand be against it but let every hand hold it Gal. 5.1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and be not intangled again with the yoke of bondage The Lord Jesus hath given you such a standing keep your standing whosoever shall push at you let none doubt that ever shall push at you let none doubt that even our outward liberties in spirituals and temporals are from our Redeemer precious Cotton so All Church priviledges and Common-wealth priviledges hath the Lord purchased by his blood So a faithful Brother among us on such a day as this our liberties and priviledges are ransomed mercies Mr. St. Christ hath given a price and by his power and by his spirit acting in the prayers and pains of his Servants hath gotten and kept them This liberty of chusing their own Magistrates the Lord gave to his own people Deut. 1.13.15 Give ye so the Hebrew and our Margent wise men and understanding known among your Tribes and I will make them Rulers over you and such as ye people gave Moses took yea this people of Israel were still free to chuse when scarce any were free to be chosen Isai 3.6 A man shall take hold of his Brother and of the house of his Father saying thou hast clothing be thou a ruler And all faithful ones are with Abraham the proper heirs of the World Rom. 4 13. and that without wrong to just propriety and it seems all shall as we have the yoke broken because of the anointing Isai 10.27 Now shall not we hold the Lands and Liberties which our God hath given us as Iudg. 11.24 that valliant Iephthe told the Arronite and indeed for your just bounds it will be great weakness to shorten them for a near Enemy is the worst as Sparta found by the Atheâ—ians seizing on Pysus a near and rejected Island Motive 2. Your trust by and for men bespeaks your care and vigilance about your Liberties This Honourable Assembly consists of the Trustees of all the Freemen of the â—â—…nd If Freemen indeed they chuse that they may so continue we should have cause to complain of any that is chosen if he should use this trust our Liberties as the Eagle in the Greek Epigram lamented that it was slain with an Arrow winged with its own Feathers Ye are also trusted for men for many all Inhabitants have their Liberties Women Children Servants yea and Strangers too let me beseech this Honourable Assembly in the name of all the Freemen
because as yet the promise is made good to you Ier. 30.2 Your Nobles are of your selves and your Governour proceeds from the midst of you so that none can be in power to hurt or hazard you but it must be by your selves and this being your glory ye may expect that the Lord will create a cloud when no visible help doth appear Isai 4 5. upon all the glory shall be a defence and the same presence of God will be offensive to all unrighteous encroachers or disturbers Eccl. 10.8 9. He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it and whoso breaketh an bedge a Serpent shall bite him whoso remoreth stones shall be hurt therewith and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby none that shall be removing your peculiar and distinguishing privileges and ancient bounds and for that end will be making parties shall prosper nay take that encouraging word more Ezra 6.11 Whosoever shall alter this word of priviledges and provision for the Temple let the Timber be pulled down from his house and being set up let him be destroyed thereon and let his house be made a Dunghil and the God that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy all Kings and People that shall put to their hand to alter and destroy this House of God Means 3. Of your constituting and administring Magistracy according to God is to give good heed to your Election that it may proceed with clearness so that there may be no fraud nor doubt in giving your votes against which you way may seem to some not so sure as elsewhere and surely what is indirectly gotten is of and for the evil one ye should come to this solemn action with a care and not as Children to see the fashion and leave things at a venture but as there is some care to be used for the manner of your Election so much more for the Object whom you chuse or refuse Exod. 18. Thou shalt provide Chasub is to look about to be circumspect ye must weigh and consider Deut. 1.13 ye must pitch upon known men excuse not saying thou knowest not whether men are fit or unfit Prov. 24.12 If thou sayest behold we knew it not doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it and he that keepeth thy soul doth not he know it and shall not he render to every man according to his works The Lord knoweth what thou thinkest or knowest and his Deputy Conscience knoweth see therefore with thine own eye implicit faith is indeed more easie but less safe you do in your Conscience and experience make some judgement of men whether friends to civil or religious liberties to justice piety and virtue whether Enemies to Vice Oppression Extortion and biting Usury and thus you do know whom to chuse whom to refuse whom you chuse you justifie as a man qualified according to Gods counsel Prov. 24.24 He that saith unto the wicked thou art righteous him shall the people curse and the Nations shall abhor take heed therefore to your selves this day or any day of Election least ye bare false witness for or against any whom ye chuse or refuse give good heed to your choice that you may not miscarry in it Arg. 1. Because your choice will shew what respect you have to Christ It is a high charge you have from the Lord Isai 65.12 They chose the things wherein I delighted not your choice shews who is your Master and whom you would please this shews what is deepest in your soul holy Bolton in his discourse of happiness pag. 131 shews that the Hypocrite hath quite other ends in his choice even himself but a sincere Christians thoughts run and are exercised about his faithfulness If saith he by my default a false man be chosen I shall be guilty before the high Judge of all the mischiefs that follow thot unhappy choice Nothing can undo this Country but unwariness and unfaithfulness but the mis-making or mis-acting of Freemen choice of men to power and trust gives the true picture or character of them that chuse if Idols are set up in power and trust instead of men really discharging their trust Psal 115.8 they that make them are like unto them Arg. 2. If you miss in your choice ye provide not well for your selves or neighbours whom ye chuse Magistrates or Deputies you trust with your lives liberties and estates Plato saith good Magistra es are better then good Laws If on by respects you set up such as will be scourges to your selves or Brethren you deserve to be whipt Iudg. 9. the Shechamites for selfish respects chose a Bramble Abimelech and by him are they scratched and even ruined Arg. 3. Wâ—â—â— you miss in choice you do not well for the chosen nor the place Ec. 8 9. There is a time when one man ruleth over others to his hurt for so he acteth more sin and gathers more wrath Pro. 26.18 As he that bindeth a stone in a string so is he that giveth honour to a fool such a man is not in his proper place as that stone the stones proper place is the ground neither can he well continue in it and however it is better where it is safe that men should not alway continue in it but there should be a change of some where it is safe as it is said Eccl. 3.18 By Magistracy and power God doth manifest men if after tryal of men you come free according to the tryal to chuse or refuse and so make some change you will make men more modest mindful in their place howsoever by some sâ—â—â— change you will try other men and â—â—â—p possession of your liberty to chuse and none may take their place for an Inheritance to use it as they list Means 4. Of acting according to God in the making and manage of Magistracy is to attend to Gods particular Rules in the matter they are in Exod. 18.21 Thou shalt provide out of all the people able men such as fear God men of truth haâ—ing covetousness here are Rules that make out the true manage of Magistracy and so give aim to the chusers to provide those that may so manage their place 1. Able men Chasil speaks ability of estate Isai 3.7 In my house is neither bread nor clothing make me not a Ruler over the People he should of his own have necessary subsistance 2. Ability of Wisdome Psal 2.10 Be wise O ye Kings be instructed O ye Iudges of the Earth they should themselves be wise or at least guided by them that are so the want of which is noted as a cause of all publick disorders Psal 8.2 5. They know not themselves neither will they understand from others they walk on in darkness the foundations of the Earth are out of course 3. Ability of spirit or courage else they will not be a terrour to evil-works but bear the sword in vain Rom. â—â— 4 and this Ability is especially to be minâ—â—â—… when Drunkenness Gaming Unrightâ—â—â—â—…ness
and I perceive Magistrates and Ministers and most of the Husbandmen will finde the want of some stable commodity which may command supplies from abroad 4. Peace is the last thing I will name conducing to the publick good which is proper for the Magistrate to promote 1 Tim 2.2 we are to pray for and therefore endeavour that Magistrates may maintaine Peace and the Rulers Office is under the notion of an Healer or binder up Isa 3.7 Chebesh he is a Chirurgion to bind up the wounds of the Country Isa 1.6 There is closing and crushing out the corrupt matter and then binding up for the uniting of the parts and then there is mollifying or suppling for the removing of the swelling and hardness Now for this blessed work the Magistrate needs an Eagles eye and Lyons heart and yet a Ladies soft and gentle hand Fathers and Brethren ye are now to assemble being clothed with the chief Magistratical power of this poor Country let me beseech you in the Name of the Lord to attend healing work and to act as those that are united as one man for the common good that the people may be so meddle not with any thing that may divide you in so dubious a time remember that Gen. 13.7 the strife between Abraham and Lot was very unreasonable because the Cananite was then in the Land and therefore Abraham to allay and end the strife doth deny himself and wave his right ye know my Brethren what new neighbours we have their busie Locusts will know and improve al your strife other snares for you are boasted of therefore now is your season for self-denial If you have any of you a thirst and longing to make any change in Church or Common-wealth and may be you see your help in the gate and have it in your power yet let me entreat you in this joynt of time not to follow but forbear your own desires because they cannot be pursued without publick hazard if any of you long for the waters of your Native land yet forbear to drink them as David 1 Chro. 11.17 Pardon me I pray you if from what appears above-board I cannot see how men here can finde any occasion of division if they do not on some secret cause unseasonably seek it what if some Brethren have departed from a particular Church irregularly say some regularly say others but why should this make any noise heat and breach in the Land since it is not held out as an ordinary case the like may not be seen in an age neither is this I hope to be a President nor is it upon any different Principles though some differing application of Principles for it is expresly owned on all hands that the major part of a Church must issue their matters where the rule doth not contradict neither can I understand why the question about adult Children of the Church should make any estrangement since all godly men have the same scope to fetch in to Christ the young Generation Some by giving those priviledges which others deny to awaken them to look out for the true and inward foundation of priviledges If upon such grounds as these we admit of strife it will carker and sour our spirits and will take up so much of our heat and heart as to leave us faint and feeble for converting work The appearance of disagreement among the Elders will hinder the order of Churches which we would assert and hinder the convertion of Youth which we would promote and promote prophaness superstition and popery which we would hinder hinder did I say nay which we would with all our might hinder and watch against for Satans great Attaque upon the Churches seems to ly that way and may be Satan and his instruments will blow up either real division amongst us or the repute or report of it that there may be a pretence of a necessity to set up a Courtier for your Governour in the Common wealth and a Prelate or something like it in the Churches and when Taxes and Tythes and all kinde of vexation are upon you in your labours and heavy burdens upon your Consciences then you will may be cry and not be heard because of your wilful drawing such things upon your selves 1 Sam. 8.18 then will you wish Oh that we had hearkened to God and his servants and had agreed but were it not my honoured Fathers and dear Brethren better to work in hope for that agreement now which we would wish for in vain Now therefore let all New Englands friends for their comfort and Enemies for their disappointment know that bating some Exentricks we are all generalâ—y agreed in the Principles of purity and power of the Churches and the liberty and safety of this people against all that lyâ— in wait against us whether nearer or further off Bear with me I beseech you that I have been so large in a matter which lay upon my heart with so great weight I shâ—ll now hasten to a conclusion when I have only touched upon 4. Qualification of them that should be set up in Magistratical power hating Coveteousness this Coveteousness which doth incapacitate a man for Magistracy is an earnest intentiveness upon wealth and increase of estate A coveteous Magistâ—ate Deputy or Commissioner will be so busie upon particular advantage that for want of that he will think much of time and pains for publick good and will be indulging 〈…〉 vice if he can gain by it the Creek 〈…〉 could say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 love of 〈…〉 is the rust of the soul and that it is Sacriledge to get wealth from the publick and gives even a divine rule that Magistracy is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not a trading and merchandize but a Ministry be that dispiseth the gain of oppression that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes Isai 33.14.15 shall hold up his head when all the world is on fire and such a fire seems kindling now and happy are they who will shake off such gain as a spark of hell or a viper lighting upon them as Paul did Act. 28.5 But now it is time to conclude least while I should help I should hinder the work of the day and 〈◊〉 conclusion I would adde two words 1. If you have had and shall have respect to God in constituting and administring of Magistracy then we must be thankful to the Lord for such Magistrates that we have liberty to chuse such and that we have such to chuse Else where their Magistrates and Officers Governour and Major General their Secretary yea their Marshal is from abroad and the Colony have no judgement of their fitness permitted to them yea we must be thankful not only for but to such â—â—gistrates and Deputies thâ—â— accept and 〈…〉 their trust for indeed we are beholden to them for so mean a 〈…〉 is allowed that they will put the 〈…〉 ders under so great a burthen in totterâ—â—â—… and troublesome times let all the Inhabitants incourage them in their work for all your mirth and prosperity will cease when such Rulers do Lam. 5.14 The Elders have ceased from the Gate the Young men from their Musick If your choice and administration be not to the mind of God exercise experience for your unworthiness your weakness in Faith Prayer Watching and Working for God would have you work â—â—t all your salvations Eccl. 10.18 By much slothfulness the building decayeth and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through Prov. 12.24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule but the slothful shall be under tribute all the decayes of the fair building of Government here all thralldome and all your destructions must needs be of your selves and your own default especially the Freemen 2. Exercise Faith if ye seek the Lord he â—ill not cast you off he hath expressed himâ—â—lf so in promise 1 Sam. 12.22 The Lord will not forsake his people for his great names sake because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people therefore howsoever matâ—â—â—… 〈…〉 aside from following the Lord 〈…〉 Lord with all your heart for the 〈…〉 will not forsake and so hath the Lord 〈…〉 pressed himself in performance to you hitherto Isa 26.3 ye are born by him from the belly and are carried from the wombâ— and let this be our comfort the Lord Jesus will put an end to all the disorders of Governement and the more disorders of that 〈◊〉 and the foundations are out of coursâ— the more are we forced to cry Psal â—◠〈…〉 rise O Lord judge the Earth 〈…〉 Nations This may awaken our 〈◊〉 to the Lord Jesus Come Lord Jesus 〈◊〉 quickly even so AMEN FINIS