in â—â—ain All others are more for shew than any â—â—od Service Be advised therefore in your â—hoice to avoid them Do you see any that â—ill be daunted with great words or sear the faâ—s of men that will tremble at the Frowns of 〈◊〉 me that can do them a diskindness or at the â—breats of one that can do them a Favour or â—â—at dare not with Phinehas shew themselves in â—e Front to make head against prevailing imâ—rious Wickedness Never expect much of such men A Sword will never do any Feats so long as it is in a Cowards hand And for them that hope for Desence and Protection by it to put it into such hand as these is to say no worse of it the greatest indiscretion 4. Direction Let the Fear of the Lord be deemed a principal Qualification of those that are to be entrusted with the Government Able men are men fâ—aâ—ing God Exod. 18.21 Those that are Ruled themselves by the fear of God will Rule others in his â—ear and that is the only Government which hath the promise of a Blessing You have been often assured and especially by those Servants of the Lord that have delivered his message to you upon the like Occasion with this of the present day that the maintaining of the Truths of Gods Word in Honour and Purity the promoting of Piety the Punishing Sâ—pprâ—ssing of all Wickedness are the grand Interest of a People professing the Name of the Lord and of your selves in Particular who have been so signally owned of God in the work of the Gospel Let me yet once more renew this Message to you in the words of the Prophet 2 Chron. 15.2 The Lord is with you while you be with him and if ye seek him he will be found of you but if ye forsake him he will forsake you Be assired that if this work dies we shall dye with it and that there is great danger of its dying if thâ—se that Rule us under God have not his Fear planted in their hearts but are wholly void of any thing within that may oblige them to be true to him Irreligious men will be no better Rulers He that is an Enemy to his own Soul and so is every one that doth not fear God He that hath no more Religion than what will serve to deceive others withal and is as all such are false to the Profession that he makes of Religion will be no better to his Countrey whenever he thinks he may be so to his Advantage Such as don't fear God will easily be vassalized to the Wills of any that are greater than themselves and can do them an Injury these would be very corrupt Judge in that case which the Apostles dared to refer to the Consciences of their own Judges Acts 4.14 viz. Whether it be better to obey God or men And it may be said to such as Tertullian of old objected to some among the Romans Majore formidine Caesarem observatis quam ipsum de Olympo Jovem But such as fear God will be afraid for that very reason of Injuring men They will as they are Custodes Tabularum not only command them to be kept and provide that due Testimony may be born against those that do not but also they will commend the Observation of them by a Pattern worthy of those whose eminency renders their Example more observable and more offectual In a word This fear will influence them to all Fidelity Diligence and Honesty Impartiality Pains and Equity They will remember that the Judgment is the Lords and if any thing be wrong done by any of his Vicegerents here below the meanest of his Subjects over whom they rule have a fair Plea and Prohibition lying against it in the Court of Heaven where it shall be called over again and Justice done them Such Rulers as these will be Nursing Fathers indeed and in Conscience towards God seek the good of their People advance the common Interest be zealous Promoters of Piety and all ungodliness they will reprove in the Gate These are the Strong Rods whereas from all others there will go out a Fire devouring all the fruit and destroying all the comforts of a People 5. I might add farther Put Honour upon such as will stand firm for the Common Interest and make the Weal of the Publick their chief Care Business In this case especially they that are given to Change are not to be medâ—ed with Prov. 24.21 In all Revolutions that are not absolutely necessary for the Preservation of Justice and Equity it is hazardable whether the Publick will not come by the loss and when it doth it doth not always recover it again that too for the most part a long time first and for this reason such as are so addicted are to be eschewed Yet beware of thinking that all that have been aspersed as Enemies to the Common Weal do deserve that Character which it may be is but the effect of some Secret Grudge of malignant men against them We shall be very unwise to deprive our selves of the benefit of those that can do God and their Country Service for the Calumnies Reproaches that they are laden withal by their Ignorant and Unthankful Neighbours 6. Again Respect such as will adorn their Authority with an Example worthy of the Dignity that they sustain Remember that great Examples if they be good will confirm the weak and it they be bad will enervate and weaken the Strongest Laws When it may be said to them that Rule as once Christ said in that case mentioned Joh. 8.7 He that is without sin among you let him cast the first Stone There will either be no Punishment of Wickedness or no Good will come of it They are very unfit to punish others who are themselves Transgressors But I omit what Particulars might be added as being comprised in the General Directions given and proceed to the last USE III. Of Exhortation In two Branches 1. To such as are or may this day be Elected and Established the Civil Rulers of this People You see Honoured and much Esteemed wherein you may be Rich Blessings As it is our duty incessantly to pray God that you may be so so also we submissively pâ—ay you that you would be so Be you therefore intreated whosoever you are upon whom the over ruling Hand of the Lord shall order the Lot to fall this day to approve your selves Strong Rods. Esteem this to be your greatest Glory the contrary to this will be both your our Ruin Let the Qualifications which have at this time been described to you be exemplified in all your managements that our own Experience may teach us the happiness of a People who are in such a case who have Strong Rods for a Scepter to rule them Your Ability is under God our strength your Fidelity our Security If these Foundations are destroyed what shall the Righteous do Psal 11.3 If these Foundations are out of course nothing
to you and so Rule this People according to the Laws of God and the King than which nothing can be a stricter tie to those that know and believe that the same God whom they have thus called upon to be a witness of the sincerity and integrity of their hearts in what they are undertaking will if they be either careless or false not suffer them to escape his Righteous Judgment and most severe Reflections 5 Shall I add this one consideration further both to stir you up to and strengthen you in your publick work It is this You have the Royal Favour of a most Gracious Soveraign whom the Divine Providence hath in a wonderful manner raised up and hitherto preserved to be the Bulwark of Religion and Property to the English Israel We are a little Branch of that Vine our Civil Life and Liberty is bound up in theirs we have felt the warmth of those benign Influences which have refreshed the wearied Land of our Fore fathers Sepulchres and as the Prophet Ezekiel speaks chap. 34.27 God hath broken the Bands of the Yoke that were upon us and delivered us out of the Hands of those that would have served themselves of us God who hath the Hearts of Princes in his Hand hath whatever our Enemies have endeavoured to the contrary given you Favour in the sight of the King You have in this respect great opportunity and advantage to be consulting and promoting the things which will be for the Glâ—ry of God the Interest of his Kingdom and the Weal of his People According as it is improved we may hope God will prolong it He will not take it well at our hands if it be neglected Give me leave then to say to you that are or may this Day be Rulers over us as once it was said to Ezâ—a chap. 10.4 This matter belongeth unto you It is your part principally to take care for the Improvement of such an Opportunity and ours to be with you in it When the Lord by whom Princes â—â—le maketh them Nursing Fathers to his People it opâ—â—eth a wide door of Liberty and Power to all that derive Authority from them to be in their respective places Rods of Strength for desending and encouraging the Good for suppresling and punishing the Wicked for promoting Piety and Rightcousness and if there be an heart wanting to improve such an advantage we may probably repent it when we can do nothing else Suffer then the Exhortation I beseech you in the words of the Lord which you have in Hag. 2.4 Be strong O Zerubbabel and work Do the work of your publick Capacities with Prudence Honour and Fidelity I am with you saith the lord of Hosts Thus if you approve your selves it will be Honour to God your Comfort our Weal and the rejoycing of all that love God his People There are a sew thingâ— which I would crave your Patience Honoured and much Respected that I may briefly recommend unto you as needful to be much in your Eyes and upon your Hearts if you would thus acquit your selves be Strong Rods to us at such a Day as this 1. Let the Interest of Religion and Holiness be your principal care Labour the reviving and promoting of it with all your strength This is both our Decus Tutamen we may truly say of this great Article that it is Articulus stantis et cadentis Nov Angliae It is this that engageth the Lord to deal gâ—aciously with his people and to be their Saviour in Isa 63.7 When the Church had reckoned up the Loving kindnesses of God many ways expressed we have in the following verse the consideration intimated upon which the Lord proceeded in deing those great things for his people verse 8. For he said surely they are my People Children that will not lie so â—e was their Saviour q. d. They will not be salse to my Covenant they will walk in my ways and keep my Commandments they will remember their Engagements and fulfil them and upon their so doing he had and would shew them his Salvation In this way they might hope for it but if they should prove lying unholy backsliding Children they would but deceive themselves to expect it Upon this ground hath the Lord been proceeding with our Fathers in time past and upon the same will he deal with us at this Day If we consider the things that were at the beginning when God first laid the Foundations of Gospel work in these Ends of the Earth if we remember the Wonders of old which we have heard and our Fathers have told us we may say of those Providences where by God through many Difficulties brought a Remnant of his faithful People into these remote corners of the World planted and preserved them here as David doth Psal 44.7 That the Lord did it By his Right-hand c. because he had a favour for them By great Deliverances and Salvations did the Lord manifest his Presence among them and Loving-kindness to them and they were all u pon this account Psal 22.4 Our Fathers trusted in thee they trusted and thou dâ—lst deliver them They had Holiness to the Lord Engraven upon their hearts designs and ways and God was with them If we are true to this Interest and Cause of God and walk in the Covenant of the Lord God of our Fathers it shall be well with us Exod. 20.6 But if there be a declining backsliding apostatizing Spirit in us if we give the Lord cause to take up that Complaint concerning us in Mal. 3.7 Even from the dayes of your Fathers ye are gone away from mine Ordinances and have not kept them Oh! what Presumption what Madness will it be for us to hope that as he was theirs so he will be our Saviour Alas How many are there that have forgotten forsaken this great Interest of the Lord among us Beyou intreated therefore who shall have the rule of this People to consider it and engage your hearts to the advancing of it Remember that there is a Solemn Covenant between God this his People God hath taken them to be his they have owned themselves to be the Lords upon this Foundation stand all our Mercies Priviledges Enjoyments whatsoever can contribute any thing to our present or suture Felicity and therefore the recovering of us from all our Apostasies and the maintaining promoting of serious Godliness among us should will be the chief Scope of such Rulers as make Conscience to Serve either God or his People 2. Express a high Veneration for and Regard unto Gods holy Ordinances Let them have all that Security from the Blasphemous Reproaches and Abuses of Ungodly men that either your Laws or your Examples can afford them If they that go before a People go out of this way sad Experience proves it but too natural a practice for them to follow their Leaders So Jeroboam the son of Nebat made Israel to Sin 1 King 16 26.
of being concerned with them they are not only injurious to particulars but the very disgrace of their Places so long as they hold them 3. An upright and impartial Judging in every Cause occurring not warp'd in the least from the streight Rule of Just and Right either by Flattery or Bribery Favour or Affection They must not respect persons in Judgment Deut 1.17 Prov. 24.23 No not the poorest man in his Cause if he hath not Right on his side Exod 23.3 Justice is to be Given not Sold and that with an equal steady hand so that neither a foolish Compassion on the miserable when they are culpable nor affection to Friends nor the Insinuations of the Crafty nor the Daubings of Flatterers the Gifts of the Wealthy the Favour of Great Ones nor yet the Frowns or Threats of the Mighty should make it incline in the least to either side Whatever Difference in respect of Dignity there may be between the Parties concerned in the Justice to be Administred yet Justice remains one and the same and the Law by which it is to be Administred ought to be duly regarded and kept unto and not bow'd and bent on every turn as may serve Occasion This will maintain the Honour of the Laws of him who Executes them whereas if this be neglected they will be both despised 4. A conscientious regulating themselves according to those Laws by which they Rule For although they owe this Obedience considered in a more private capacity yet their yielding of it not a little conduceth to their faithful management of their publick Office since they can't be more false to that Trust than when they are themselves Actors of that Evil which they are intrusted to punish in others They are Custodes tam Pietatis quam Justitiae inter Homines Keepers Preservers Promoters of Piety and Righteousness among men This is it which they have in Charge from God and men this is the great Matter committed to them And for men to violate that thing whatsoever it be which is committed to their Care is among the highest Notes of Infidelity Good and Faithful Rulers will be far from thinking that their Audiority which is to suppress Evil in others serveth as a Dispensation to themselves to be and do as they please They will not esteem themselves at such a liberty or think that they are as much above the Law they are to Rule by as they are above those they are to Rule over But they know that considering the Places they stand in it doth as much concern them to approve themselves worthy Patterns of all Holiness Righteousness and Obedience as to punish the default of these in others They know that their bad Examples will be more followed and by more then their Authority will be feared Prov. 29.12 And that therefore they can never be honest in their Places unless they labour to be Instances of that Reverence themselves which they expect all others should shew to the Laws under their Administration And to add no more when they that should be a Terror to Evil Doers set themselves up for an Example to them and do the very things that they should bear witness against in others we may be sure The Wicked will walk on every side Psal 12.8 without Fear either of God or man But when those that are in Authority do by their own Obedience practically honour the Laws they administer this is not only an Encouragement to those that do well but a Terrour to all that do otherwise and utterly takes away the Hope of Impunity from the most presumptuous For this Instance of a Rulers Fidelity is the best Assurance that he hath taken up Davids Resolution Psal 75.10 To cut off all the Horns of the Wicked and that he will not bear the Sword of Justice in vain Thus you see who are the Strong Rods and what it is makes them so Wise and Just Couragious and Pious Rulers Devoting themselves to the work of their Office diligently enquiring into and impartially judging in Causes depending and of Exemplary Consersation It remains that we shew them to be rich Blessings And that we may make a right Estimate of the worth of such men and come to know what Blessings they are to the Publick we may first consider wherein the Publick Weal consists and then what Influence they have upon it And from their Serviceableness to that great End of Government we may fairly compute what value we ought to put upon them Wherein this Weal doth lie the Apostle tells us 1 Tim. 2.2 viz. in a quiet and peaceable life in all Godliness and Honesty In which words he points out to us the two great things that are the grand Interests of a People Religion and Property When a people have the liberty of professing the True and Orthodox Faith of the Gospel and of Worshipping and Serving the Lord in the ways of his own Appointment according to the prescription of his blessed Word when a people may enjoy their proper Rights and Priviledges according to Gods Laws and their own when they have that liberty secured to them against the Invasions of Error Profaneness and Superstition and these Rights and Priviledges maintained both against the Annoyances of a Foreign Power and against the Attempts of Domestick Oppression Fraud and Violence so that as the Psalmist speaks Psal 144.14 There is no breaking in nor going out nor complaining in their Streets Then they enjoy this Quietness and Peace in all Godliness and Honesty And that People is happy that is in such a case Now therefore if it can be evinced that Able and Faithful Rulers are the great means under God for the attaining these great ends of Government and for the procuring and establishing this Happiness the matter will be out of all doubt and that People must be confessed happy that have such to rule them And here Whosoever shall well weigh the Condition of a People under other Circumstances whether we consider them as wholly destitute of Rulers or their Rulers destitute of such Qualifications shall never want Conviction in this Particular 1. For As to the first of these Cases viz. When it is the condition of a People to be destitute of Rulers their case is woful The Consequents of Anarchy are so manifestly fatal to the whole and to particulars that the very Authors of it have blush'd to be it's Advocates Nature it self allows us not to imagine that the Civil Felicity of a People can subsist without Government Whatever Dissatisfaction men have conceived against the Powers that are they are rather against the Person than the Authority Yea they that being weary of any present Powers are given to Change do ever pretend to hope for better which shews that the Necessity of Government to the common Good of a People is such a conclusion of the Light of Nature as cannot be concealed no not in the most Disaffected And which brings to the other case the same
Blessings and condemn others as the Causes of a Peoples ruine What an honourable Character doth the Spirit of God give us of Moses Joshua and Samuel among the Judges Of David Solomon Jehosaphat and some others among the Kings And what an everlasting Brand of Infamy the Scripture hath set upon those Kings of Judah and Israel that were not so qualified as you have heard is obvious to every one that reads the Chronicles of those times with Observation To this therefore I shall add only these two or three Particulars wherein you may see the Lord commending able and faithful Rulers to us as rich Blessings and condemning others as ruinous 1. It is recommended in Deut. 1.13 and Exod. 18.21 to all that have the liberty and power of Electing Civil Rulers that in their designation of Persons to Places of Authority they should have special regard to their being so qualified And that which then contributed to the happiness of a People cannot now be thought to cross it 2. The Lord gives such Rulers in Mercy to a People In 2 Chron 9.8 It is said concerning Solomon Because thy God Loved Israel to establish them for ever therefore made he thee King over them to do Judgment and Justice It was a blessed Promise that God supported his people with when they were languishing under the miseries of a Government not regarding the Administration of Justice That he would restore them Judges as at the first and Counsellers as at the Beginning Isa 1.26 i. e. such as Moses and Joshua David and Solomon And when such as these are removed from a People their case is awful and God threatens it as a sore Judgment Isa 3.1 2. 3. God sends other Rulers in wrath to a People I gave thee a King in mine anger saith the Lord concerning Saul Hos 13.11 And again Isa 3.4 God threatens that People with this Curse I will give Children to be their Princes and Babes shall rule over them Dreadful are the consequents of this mentioned in the next verse The people shall be oppressed every one by another and every one by his neighbour The Child shall behave himself proudly against the Ancient and the base against the honourable In a word Violence and Insolence will bear down all before them 4. Able and Faithful Rulers have the Promise of God's Presence and Blessing Prov. 29.14 The King that faithfully judgeth the Poor his Throne shall be established for ever 2 Chron 19 ult Deal Couragiously and the Lord shall be with the good And God in blessing them blesseth the whole People When their methods are Prudent their aimes Right their endeavours Vigorous their hearts Valiant their hands Strong and God is pleased to be Crowning them with Success the Publick will reap the benefit It is said Judges 2.7 The People served the Lord all the days of Joshua Joshua faithfully endeavoured it and God smiled upon his endeavours God was with him and the People flourished in Piety and Prosperity but it was not long after Joshua's Head was laid in the Grave before they knew the difference The APPLICATION of the Doctrine may be USE 1. By way of INSTRUCTION Learn hence 1. That it is a signal token of the Divine Favour to a People when they have such men to rule over them Their Promotion cometh not from the East or from the West c. Psal 75.6 7. 'T is God that sets them up and His Love is to be seen in it and ought to be acknowledged 2. What matter of humbling it is to a People when such are either denied unto them or removed from them When the Elders were ceased from the Gate Lam. 5.14 The Prophet saith upon it v. 16. The Crown is fallen from our Heads when good men are taken away it is a sad Omen but when such good men thus removed were good Rulers too it 's much more ominous Such losses are hardly repaired therefore they are a Lamentation and shall be for a Lamentation 3. How much it concerns Rulers to be and approve themselves such men Strong Rods as they would not be charged with the Ruining of their People And that being themselves rich Blessings they themselves might be blessed both of God and men 4. That Those that are Professed Enemies to such a Government as hath Strong Rods to rule or to such Rulers as these are upon no Terms to be born withal But I may not enlarge on these Particulars the chief that I aim at in the Present Improvement of this Truth shall be in two words farther Of Direction and of Exhortation USE II. Of Direction This Doctrine affords Excellent Counsel to all such as have the Power of Choosing and Liberty by divine Providence and the Royal favour of Electing Persons into any Office of Civil Rule and Government among this People And it ought to be taken notice of by you as a necessary Direction in the work that is now before you It highly concerns you to be very careful of not abusing so great a Trust It is a piece of Service that requires your utmost Care and Conscience You are this day to transact a matter of great Importance to the Weal of this People and the Eyes of God and men is upon you Of God to observe your Sâ—iâ—its Designs and Ends in this Days work to bless you accordingly and the Eyes of Men are upon you some to rejoyce in all the happy effects that may follow your prudent choice others to take advantage of all the follies that you may this day be guilty of I may well conclude my self very much a Stranger to the particular Methods and Customs usual in the manner of your Elections But I suppose whatever sâ—epâ— have been already taken in other places of this Government there are many in this Assembly who are still to give in their Suffrage To whom therefore I would more particularly recommend this Rule that the Doctrine layes before 〈◊〉 and in them to all others that may hereafter be concerned in the same or like affâ—â—â— as that which you ought to attend to It you would not this day do that which will be for a Lamenâ—ation to this People and remain so â—et your Care then be to Elect such as may be Able for their Places and Faithful in them Don't think your Voices are so your own that you may bestow them upon whom you will meerly because you will Let not that Liberty you have be abused to an undoing Licentiousness Beware of those corrupt and sinister Ends which are too too apt to blind your Judgments and biass your Affections from the Rule thus set before you I shall but hint at some of them There are some of plausible pretences indeed but ungoverned Spirits who in Affairs of this nature consult only their own Humours and choose for such as they hope will most indulge them These had rather they should be in Authority then such as have Wisdom and Spirit to controul them if they have
under the Command Conduct of such Rulers God hath wayes enough to discharge them to take them from such a People or iâ—â—he doth not so yet to cause that they shall not profit them For the Prevention of which I have but these few words to offer and so shall close Are Able and Faithful Rulers such Rich Blessings and would we contribute to this our Happiness then 1. Let us be thankful to God for such Mercies When the Lord gives Kings to be Nursing Fathers to his People as he promiseth Isa 49 23. Should not the Praises of the Lord resound throughout all the Gates of the â—ughter of Zion Do we also see such advanced to â—bordinate Places of Power Let us remember that 〈◊〉 Promotion is from God It is He that sets them up â—d 756 7. They are of Him Râ—m 13.1 And by Him â—y Rule Prov. 8.16 We cast the Lot but the Lord that 〈◊〉 on High hath the whole disposing of it Prov. 16 33. 〈◊〉 that our Choice is also of Gods Appointment If â—ey be of our desiring they are of His giving And as â—hen others bear rule over a People it is a Signal of â—ods Displeasure under which they ought to Mourn 〈◊〉 when our Rods are Strong it is a Fruit of the Lord's â—avour and He ought to have the Praise In Psal 72. â—fter the Psalmist had in a Prophetical Contemplation â—lebrated the happy State of the Common-Weal of â—rael in a Day when they enjoyed the Blessing which â—e Doctrine speaks of for the Glory of which Felicity â— is considered as a Type of Christ's Kingdom closeth â—l with Repeated Acclamations of Praise and Honour 〈◊〉 God as the Authour of it at v 18.19 Blessed be the â—ord God the God of Israel who only doth wondrous things â—nd blessed be his glorious Name for ever and let the whole â—arth be filled with his Glory Amen Amen 2. Let us highly Prize and Honour them That Preâ—ept of the Apostle with Reference to Rulers Ecclesiastiâ—al is of as great Force in this case 1 Thes 5.13 Where â—e chargeth us to esteem them that are over us very â—ighly and undervalued Mercies are not like to be long continued Consider it and be Wise We have not many such to spare certainly then it is our Prudence â—nd Interest not to provoke the Lord to remove them Again let our high Esteem of them be testifyed by an honourable Deference towards them The Apostle Paul â—aith concerning them Rom. 13.7 That Honour is to be rendred them They are Gods Psal 82.6 And as such there is a Civil Worship and Reverence due to them both in Word Action Speak no Evil of Dignities Abhor that Unchristian way of Detraction Backbiting and Slander If they are God's Vicegerents certainly it must be a Crying Sin and Shame for us thus to treat them Do our Enemiâ—s charge us that this is the way wherein we have been used to requite those that with greatest Pains have travailed for the Publick good Let us refute this Slander and if we can do no more yet at least Let us Love Honour such as have Rule over us 3. Take we Care that we don't make them or provoke them to be other wise As they are sometimes Accessory to our Sins when they either connive at us doing them allow us in them or indulge us afterwards so shall we be to their Male-Administrations if we seek to corrupt discourage pervert and disbhearten or any way weaken them There was a very Laudible Spirit in the People when they said to Ezra Chap. 10.4 Arise This matter belengeth unto thee we also will be with thee be of good Courage do it And that matter did accordingly Succeed very happily But when there is a perverse Spirit of Dislike and Contradiction in us to thwart the Counsels and controul the Methods of such as are intrusted with the Care of the Publick if those Counsels prove abortive and those Methods vain it is no more than may reasonably be expected and we may thank our selves for it 4. I shall not exceed the Bounds of my Commission and I hope neither those of your Patience if I put you in Remembrance That you be Subject to those that are set over you St Paul left this in Charge with Titus respecting his Cretians Tit. 3 1. And it is a Duty as Obvious to the light of Nature so also positively enjoyned us in the Word of God Eccl. 8 2. I Counsel thee to keep the Kings Commandment and that in regard of the Oath of What can be more Express than that of the Aâ—le Peter 1 Pet. 2.13 14 Submit your selves to every â—inance of man for the Lords sake whether it be to the â—g as Supreme or unto Governours as unto them that sent by them The General Precept of Obedience Apostle doth here particularly apply with Respect â—ll Degrees of Authority both Supreme Subordinate 〈◊〉 so plainly declareth it to be the Mind of God v. 15. so is the Will of God That a man must Violate Reaâ— Conscience to gain say it The Apostle Paul urgâ— the same Duty in his Epistle to the Romans Chap. 1. Let every Soul be subject unto the higher Powers And â—weth that the Christians Obligation thereunto hath its â—ginal from a Power which no man can dispute but is utmost Peril v. 2. Whosoever therefore resisteth the â—er resisteth the Ordinance of God and they that resist 〈◊〉 receive to themselves Damnation We might argue 〈◊〉 as the Apostle doth in the Context v. 4. From the â—mon good which shall then flourish when there is â—irit of Wisdom Prudence Judgment in those that 〈◊〉 of Subjection in others upon this Account must needs be Subject as the Apostle adds v. 5 â—mly for wrath but for Conscience sake There are but â— things that can rationally be pretended to dispense 〈◊〉 this Obligation The First is when the Commands â—â—en do cross the Will of God And the Second is â—n the Authority commanding is not Legal As to First It is a ruled Case Act. 5.29 God is to be obeyed or than men Active Obedience is due where it may with a safe Conscience else not yet here All enâ—ours are to be carefully used to assure our selves â—he Repugnancy which we conceive to be between â—s Divine Humane be not onely in our Imaginaâ— for otherwise while we pretend to obey the Lord â—efusing Obedience unto men we shall be found which without doubt is the unhappy Condition of some disobedient both to God man As to the latter viz. The Illegality of the Authority Commanding I shall only say That whatever disputes there may be about the various Methods that are in use among men for the Designation of Persons to Places of Authority or about those that are Vested with Authority whether they came righâ—fully by it or no certainly they that have the Liberty or Electing their own Rulers have the least Reason to insist upon this