will go right or stand long among us It is a great Trust which is this day to be committed to you your Advantages hereupon to do much for the Glory of God among his People by going before them and leading them in the way of the Lord are very Eminent And God hath answerable Expectations concerning you you may be for a Name and a Praise unto him and we may be so too by God's blessing on your Conduct This God expects and this is the Hope and Prayer of such as fear the Lord among us You have our hearty Wishes that God would be with you as he hath been with those that are gone before you That you may be as the Mountains that bring Peace and as the Hills that produce Righteousness to his People That your Wisdom Justice Courage Piety may be the safeguard of our Land and the Stability of our Times These are the things which duely improved will make you Rich Blessings Be intreated therefore to shine in the Improvement of them The Lord hath said Ye are Gods Psal 82.6 Let these Virtues appear as inseperable Properties of your Deity If you lack these things you cannot stand and we must fall I might remember you of many particulars by way of Motive As 1. You have the Care and Charge of a People whom God hath by special Favour taken to be his own Peculiar And such a Tâ—ust as this ought to be strenuously faithfully discharged The Lord our God hath by signal Protections and a stretched out Arm made these once dark corners of the earth a place of comfortable Entertainment to a Remnant of his faithful Servants and their Seed Here he hath intrusted us with the choise Mercies of his Word Ordinances we have had them enjoyed them in safety from all the Endeavours of such as with an envious eye and vexed Soul have beheld what God hath been doing for us and though we have sadly proved our selves ungrateful backsliding Children untrue to the Interest of the Gospel and Kingdom of Christ among us yet Oh! how are Covenant Mercies prolonged to us and how great are the Covenant Engagements and Obligations that we are continued under to this Day And what is the Lords end in all this but that we should be holiness unto him What doth God design but that we should shew forth his Praises who hath thus crowned us What doth the Lord look for from us but sach fruit as this And the Honour God puts upon you whom he makes the Rulers of his People the Authority which he doth vest you with is with Subserviency to this end God hath designed the Civil Government of his People to concenter with Ecclesiastical Administrations and though by different Mediums they are both levelled at the same end the maintaining of Piety and promoting of a Covenant walk with him That which is the Lords Aim in this should be yours also all your Conducts should center here This is the work that belongs to you in your Publick Capacities and it calls for your Wisdom and Justice and Zeal and Holiness if you would be found thus ruling with God and faithful with his Saints Hosea 11.12 2. Again Do net those palpable Declensions from the way of the Lord and Covenant Violations which we are manisestly guilty of loudly proclaim it necessary for you to bestir your selves with a holy Prudence and Zeal for the Cause of God among us Oh! how justly may the Lord complain of us that we are become the degenerate Plant of a strange Vine unto him Where is that Zeal for God and his ways that high esteem of Gospel Priviledges that faithful improvement of Sacred Ordinances that Care Concermnent for the Advancing of the Kingdom of Christ which things were once our praise Are not these great Interests miserably disregarded And Oh! what Irreligion Lukewarmness Prophanes and Immoralities have usurped their Room And doth not the Lord expect that the Leaders of his People should be their Reformers You have great Examples the Royal Presidents of Jehosaphat Hezekiah Josiah famous in this matter accepted and blessed of the Lord. let this then be your great Care to recover us a sinful sinning People from all our Apostasies And Oh! how much may you do by your Wisdom Piety Zeal and Justice Precept and Example Authority and Awe to awaken us and recover us again to the good wayes os God The Good Lord strergthen you yet more and more in all your endeavours for this and think upon you according to all that you have done and shall still be doing for his People 3. Further. Hath not the Lord himself been coming near to Judgment and pleading with and against his People It is obvious that God hath a Controversy with us and He is wrath with his Inheritance The tender mercy of God indeed doth spare us to this day many good and pleasant things yet in divers respects God hath been and is humbling us and bringing us low Tho' we may with thankful Admiration at the Divine Goodness say as the Psalmist Psal 78.38 concerning the Lords Dispensations towards 〈◊〉 Many a time turned He his anger away and did not stirâ— up all his wrath yet if we coâ—sider the Bloodshed and ruinous Devastations in some Places of this Land together with the languishing Sâ—ate oâ— the whole Country at this Day we may also take up the Psalmists complaint Psal 80.5 And say Thou feedest us with the Bread of Tears and givest us Tears to drink without measure I shall no need to mention those various Rebukes of Providence as Blastings and Mildews Droughts Unseasonable Frosts of late Sickness the Sword which you have so often in your Orders for Publick Humiliation piously directed us to take notice of as Tokens of the Lords Anger surely by these Providences God hath been loudly testifying against our Transgressions And we may read in them that of the Prophet Jer. 5.25 Your Sins have withholden good things from you We have a case fit and proper for us under our present Circumstances to propound and consider stated and resolved to our hand in Deut 29.23 24. Wherefore hath the Lord done thus unto this Land what meaneth the Heat of this great Anger Then men shall say because they have forsaken the Covenant of the Lord God of their Fathers And if this be a Day wherein the Lord is coming out against us in Judgment Oâ— How should you that are the Lords Substitutes bear witness in your places against the Transgressions which provoke him If you are thus a Terrour to Evil Doers it may be God will do no more terrible things in Judgment against us If you do wisely and courageously Execute Judgment who knows but it may divert the Lords Phinehas did so and the Plague was stayed Psal 106 30. 4 You do ordinarily I suppose I may say constantly bring your selves under the Sacred Bâ—nd of a Solemn Oath with impartiality fidelity to discharge the Trust committed
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.
readily drawn away to decline after many to wrest Judgment which we are warned against Exod. 23 2. They may be too easily moved in their Affections and ready to shew Indulgence to Offenders when it consists neither with Piety nor Justice But Remember always that with you there ought to be no such respect of Persons Prov. 24.23 Be deaf to the cries of the Poorest when they can't be heard without wrong to Justice and regard not the Clamours of the Mighty to the prejudice of Truth 7. In animadverting upon Offences committed against good and wholesome Laws hold a steady course of Punishment To neglect which makes the Timorous grow venturesome and presumptuous the presumptuous grow more fearless I shall not dispute how far it may be lawful for Rulers to pardon Offenders it is but seldom that Subjects have reason to complain upon this score the Severity of Rulers not their Lenity is mostly blamed Yet it cannot be denied but that when the Powers that are do degenerate into a coldness and remissness in punishing Delinquents into an easiness of bearing with insolent proud Offenders it giveth as deep not to say a deeper wound to the Weal of the State than an excess on the other hand would It is a mighty discouragement to the well willing and obedient when they see those that trample upon the Laws escaping the penalty of them it also hardens the Disobedient and Rebellious the hope of escaping will make men venture and at length they will grow to such an height of Inâ—lence as will not be contented with any thing leâ—â— than trampling upon the Authority that hath evâ—â— attempted or shall attempt to curb them It wâ—â— well said by Seneca of a Prince Paenam si tuto â—â—terit donet i.e. If he can do it not only with his ovâ—â— private but with the publick safety also It ougâ—â— to be considered in the pardoning of Offenderâ—â— that one main end of the Law is Salus Populi tâ— Publick Good which lieth chiefly in preserviâ—â— the Authority of the Laws preventing Injuriâ—â— and securing mens Rights as also in vindicatiâ—â— of his or their Dignity and Honour who taâ—â— care of the Common-Weal and where that eâ—â— may in these ways be promoted withal it nâ— not be unmeet that Lenity should be exercisâ— But to pardon Offences purely out of hope â—â— win Offenders which is the fairest pretencâ— imprudent men without considering whether 〈◊〉 Publick will not sustain more damage other wâ— than it can be profited by the amendment of thâ— Offenders if they should chance to be wonâ—â— very absurd and foolish 8. Do your utmost to remove every thing that 〈…〉 the appearance of Deceit and Faishood in it as fâ—â— it is possible from all Affairs pertaining to the Aâ—stration of Justice It is a sad thing when 〈◊〉 comes a Ruled Case with those that have toâ— in such Pleadings as are proper for Courts oâ—stice that it is but a venial matter to aver 〈◊〉 thing be it never so wrong if they can but 〈◊〉 serve the Cause which they have undertaken â—nd when such as are paid for their speaking are 〈◊〉 basely mercinary as to speak more according 〈◊〉 their Fee than their Consciences it is a horrid â—actice not to be tolerated by such whose busiâ—â—ss it is to search the matter and discover the â—â—uth These ought to be frown'd upon and â—â—ers countenanced Prov. 16.13 Righteous Lips 〈◊〉 the delight of Kings and they love him that speaâ—â—h right They that croud in their Opinions â—â—der colour of being Amici Curiae are no ways be allowed of if they notoriously appear to be stitiae Inimici If silence be but a moderate Peâ—â—ce to be Enjoyned those that have not wit eâ—ugh to speak to the Case Certainly it is as 〈◊〉 and fitting for those that have not honesty eâ—â—gh to speak the truth in it And if wise men â—â—y have patience enough to bear with the folly the former yet good Rulers should have more â—nscience than to bear with the wickedness of 〈◊〉 latter 9. Consult the Honour of Government and maintain 〈◊〉 There are few things that do more conduce â—he good of a Common Weal It was a calaâ—â—ous Day in Israel mentioned Isa 3.5 when 〈◊〉 Base rose up against the Honourable And â—as a time when they had no Strong Rods to 〈◊〉 them when such abuses as these are not seâ—â—ly reflected upon the very Authors of them 〈◊〉 fault with it For when they intrench upon Honour of Authority they know it is a Misdemeanour which may not be tolerated they know themselves blame worthy enough but they secretly think also that you who should punish such intolerable Injuries to the Publick are more to blame in suffering them to escape unpunished And it may be they are not herein much mistaken Well Let them never have occasion for such a Calumny keep a strict hand over them 〈◊〉 easy methods were never calculated for such ungrateful turbulent Spirits Perit quod facis Ingratâ— All Gentleness is utterly lost upon them 10. When any Publick Trust is committed to other that are in Inferiour Places of Power see to them thaâ— they do their Duty faithfully Their Neglects and Male doings are among men commonly chargeâ— to your Account who sit Alost and have the advantage of inspecting and seeing that things aâ—â— carried in a right Channel And indeed theâ— will be reputed yours in the sight of God too 〈◊〉 through carelessness you don't look after them oâ— through Favour wink at them 11. Arm your selves with Courage Think ofteâ— of Davids words to Solomon 1 King 2.2 Be thoâ— strong and shew thy self a man And of Jehosaphaâ— Charge to his Judges 2 Chron. 19.11 Deal Courâ—â—giously To rule over men in the Fear of God is a work that will meet with no slender opposâ—tion You must expect to have to do with Sons oâ— Belial and the man that toucheth them must bâ— fenced with Iron and the Staff of a Spear we appointed fearless Whatever Difficulties theâ— â—e attending this work yet it is the Lords and â—ch as he calls to Execute it must neither shrink â—ack for them or turn aside in the least Every Common Wealth will have some Filth and Ofâ—â—ouring in it tho' never so much pains be taken 〈◊〉 keep it neat and it is no easy thing to cleanse 〈◊〉 There are Beasts of Prey that live by catchâ—ng and devouring to be found in the best and â—ost orderly Polities in the World And these 〈◊〉 they can't be chased away yet their Jaws must â—e broken and the Prey plucked out of their â—eeth This belongs to you so did Job chapt â—9 17 And it argued that he had an Heart unâ—aunted Resolve thus to do in the Fear of God â—nd he will strengthen you 12. Consider the Circumstances of the present Day 〈◊〉 as to be in Prudence providing against any threatned â—vil Among other of the sore Judgments of God whereby it is a Day of treading down in â—he
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