Justice and he that Suffers is always in the Wrong And surely there is not a more miserable Condition in the World than to live in such a State of Anarchy The most Cruel Tyranny is more Tolerable by how much it is better to be a Slave to One than Every Man Men would rather choose to open a Passage and let out their Lives than to be in such continual Torment about them They would rather strip themselves of all Being if they could or venture their Condition in another World than live in this upon such Terms And yet with how Pleasing a Speculation does this Commonwealth of Libertinism entertain many Imaginations They have nothing but Golden Dreams they already wallow in Wealth they swim in Pleasure and are Masters of all they can desire But alas They consider not that Others have the same Fancies and Appetites and while every Man grasps at all none can hold any thing fast And that none may think I have represented things in False Colours Let us put our Eye to the Perspective and look upon the Israelites by the Light of this Text and we shall behold them all Chaos Deformity and Confusion both in their Religious and Civil Affairs In the Story here before us we find Micah and his Mother busie and zealous about their Graven and Molten Images their House of Gods and their Ephod and Teraphim making his Son a Priest who was not of the Tribe of Levi. For the Congregation is Holy said Korah and every Man has the Spirit In the Verse after the Text we find a Levite Inveigl'd to give the more Credit and Countenance to the Idolatry Tempted by Necessity as may be conceiv'd by the Salary this Chaplain was contented with viz. Ten Shekels of Silver per Annum a Suit of Cloaths and his Dyet So that he that was but a Servant to the Priest in the Divine Appointment is Consecrated a Priest by Micha's Order and by the same Rule the Priest may become a Bishop And as Micha here so we find a great part of a Tribe Seduced into the same Sin Chap. XVIII 19. Thus the Divine Institution will be Despis'd and all Order inverted in Religion if every Man may do what is Right in his own Eyes Every Man will take Honour to himself without being Call'd as Aaron will Affect the Preheminence as well as Diotrephes or Aerius will be an Apostle or a Prophet have a Psalm or a Hymn a Way and Mode of Worship by himself and the Unity of Religion shall be Divided and Multiply'd not according to the Number of our Cities or Families but of Persons Every Man will Cry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Esteem it a fine thing to be Celebrated for an Author and a Setter forth of new and strange Doctrines and Applaud themselves for their own happy Discoveries whereof there are no Footsteps in any of the Traditions or Dotages of the Antients There is not more Pride in being First in a Fashion than being Singular in an Opinion Such is the Carnality of some Minds That nothing is more Delightfull to them than as the Scripture Phrases it to Run a Whoring after their own Inventions Nor were the Jews more Unhappily led by this Liberty into Apostacy from their Religion than into the Vilest and most Shameful Immoralities of which the Lewdness of the Benjamites in all its Circumstances and Consequences is an Instance without a Parallel And the same Reason is assign'd in the conclusion of the History as sure there was no King but every Man did that which was Right in his own Eyes Judg. XXI 25. But the Evil does not Rest here for their Idolatries and Wickedness is Punisht with Civil Wars among themselves and Invasion from abroad The Lust of the Benjamites kindled the Rage of the other Tribes into such a Flame as almost Consum'd a Tribe of Israel Nor was their Miseries only from a Civil War but from Foreign Enemies While they forsook God who was their Strength and every one displeas'd Him by doing what was pleasing to himself their divided House could not Stand but lay Open to the Ambition of every Powerful Prince who thought fit to Advance the Glory of his Arms in their Conquest and Distruction And thus they became a Prey to Chushan the Mesopotamion and Eglon the Moabite and to the many other Lords who in their Turns Rul'd over them almost to the Ruine of their Nation Had not God sent them frequently Signal and Unhop'd for Deliverances Having entertain'd your Patience on the Two Particulars I Propos'd to Discourse of Give me leave to make a few Inferences from what has been said I. And First this shews an absolute necessity of Civil Power and a due Execution of Penal Laws for the well Governing of any People Since these only can sufficiently curb and restrain this Maxim of the Libertine which if Pursu'd must necessarily Destroy all our most Important Interests of Religion of Liberty and Property And all these are necessary As good no King as no Law no Law as no Execution In the Case before us we find the Want of Civil Government to be the Reason of all the Sins and Miseries of the Jewish Nation They had the best Religion then in the World and the best Laws for their Use And Phinehas the High-Priest stood before the Altar Chap. XX. 28. in those days when there was no King But though he was a Man famous for his Zeal as Abraham for his Faith for it was Imputed to him for Righteousness and we cannot imagine he was Idle in that high Employment yet neither his Courage nor his Piety could stem the Torrent of Vice and of Idolatry by the Power purely Spiritual Where Men have Faith to believe Eternal Rewards and Punishments the Weapons of the Religious Warfare are indeed Mighty and of great Efficacy to the pulling down of strong Holds But even our Saviour could do no mighty Wâ—rks in some Places because of Mens Unbelief Nor can the Ecclesiastical Conjurers work Miracles of Reformation on all Men for the same Reason But all Men have Sense though all Men have not Faith and the Atheist fears Death that does not fear God and looks on that as a Real Evil though he thinks Hell Torments but a Painted Fire The Cure therefore of these Evils of Idolatry of Atheism Lewdness and Prophaneness which we are told in Job are Iniquities to be punish'd by the Judge is not to be expected from the Spiritual Sword unless the Secular Arm assist it by delivering them over to Temporal Punishments as God did to Satan in the Primitive Discipline that they may learn not to blaspheme 2. The Mischief of this Principle of doing every one what is right in his own Eyes shews the Unreasonableness of those that Contend for an Indefinite Liberty either in Religious or Civil Matters under a Stated and Well-Settl'd Government for it is the first End of Law and Government to bound and limit such a
A SERMON PREACHED BEFORE HIS EXCELLENCY THE LORD LIEUTENANT AND THE Two Houses of PARLIAMENT IN CHRIST's-CHURCH DVBLIN When THEY First Met there together On Sunday October 16. 1692. By JOHN Lord Archbishop of TUAM Published by His EXCELLENCY 's Special Command DVBLIN Printed by Joseph Ray on College Green for William Norman Bookseller in Dames Street 1692. JUDG XVII 6. In those Days there was no King in Israel but every Man did that which was Right in his own Eyes THE Book of Judges contains Memorials of the State and People of the Jews from the Death of Joshua to the Time that Eli Judged Israel with whose Government the first Book of Samuel begins and carries on their History We have here an Account of many Vicissitudes of their Government and of many very Remarkable Passages concerning the Manners and Behaviour the Sufferings and Deliverances of that Stubborn and Apostatizing People From the Day that they left Egypt they were on every Turn murmuring against Moses their Deliverer all their Grievances are put to his Account If they at any Time want Flesh or Bread or Water they immediately charge him with Mis-management and wish they had still continu'd Slaves so they might have eaten Onions and Garlick and Flesh in Egypt So that God was forc'd often to stop their Mouths by Miracles and sometimes to vindicate the Authority of His Servant by extraordinary Judgments on those that Rebell'd against it So difficult a thing it was to keep them to their Duty even when Moses was King in Jesurun and was Conducting them from Bondage into Liberty But they had not long past over Jordan and Enjoy'd Rest from their Enemies before they sell to their old Trade They serv'd the Lord all the Days of Joshua and of the Elders that out-lived him but these were scarce Cold in their Graves and but just gather'd to their Fathers when there arose another Generation which knew not the Lord but did evil in his sight and follow'd other Gods insomuch that his Anger often waxed hot that they could not stand against their Enemies Nevertheless upon their Repentance God still rais'd them up Judges and Delivered them all the days of the Judge But as soon as he died they again corrupted themselves more than their Fathers and ceased not from their own doings nor from their stubborn way This is the Account we have of them in the Second Chapter which describes the Heads and Contents of the Book following which is fill'd with little else but such like various Turns of their Affairs of their Sins and their Punishments and of their Repentance and Deliverance The Text is an Historical Remark which the Collector of these Passages makes of a certain Inter-Regnum or Intercision in their Civil Government and of the Consequences that Naturally and Usually attend such a State and Frame of Things And accordingly I shall take an Occasion to offer to your Consideration the great Misery of a People when they are without Restraint from Civil Government Which I shall with all plainness endeavour to lay before you from two Heads of Discourse which are obvious in the Text. I. Here is a Vacancy in the Throne In those Days there was no King in Israel II. A General Debauchery or Universal Depravation of Manners Every Man did that which was Right in his own Eyes When we have viewed and considered these Particulars I shall in a few Practical Inferences bring them home to our own Doors and there leave their Application I. Here is a Vacancy in the Throne There was in those Days no King in Israel By the Word King in this Text we are not I conceive to understand that Form of Government only which we call a Monarchy but Civil Government in general if the Text did intend that Form Precisely and Exclusively of all others it would I confess be the strongest Argument of the Excellency and Usefulness thereof and a Reflection upon all other Models as being less sufficient for their Ends. We might from such an Exposition infer That the Monarchical Government is the most Powerful and Effectual Restraint to the Passions and Vices of Men. As if we shou'd say There were other Governours the standing Council of the Great Sanhedrim and other Inferiour Judicatories but these could not check the Insolencies of Men nor stop the Course of Impiety or Violence these could not hinder or durst not punish the Riots and Unlawful Assemblies of the Wicked and Unruly Sons of Belial There was no King and therefore every Man did as he pleas'd as if no Lord were over them But I conceive such an Exposition is too narrow and not altogether true For as Solomon observes Prov XXX 27. The Locusts who have no King yet go forth all of them by Bands So other Constitutions of Government may have Unity and Order and Strength to enforce their respective Laws and the Finger of their Discipline is found sometimes to be heavier than the Loins of Monarchy the Generosity and Clemency of Kings at least of some Kings Dispensing in some matters with a rigid Conformity to their Laws while others who affect a show of more Liberty prove generally more severe Exactors of Obedience And therefore by No King in Israel I am content you may understand a Cessation of Civil Authority in general and not of any particular Form of its Administration So that No King shall signifie No Government in Israel But then this kind of Government being here put to signifie any other we may reasonably conclude Either 1. That this viz. A Monarchy is the best of all the several kinds the most apt and sufficient for its ends Parcere Subjectis Debellare Superbos for the Terror of Evil Doers and the Praise of Them that do Well Or 2. That that Government by which God Presided over the Jews in the Times of Moses and Joshua and the Judges did more resemble that of a King than any other sort of Administration whether of Aristocracy or Democracy And therefore we may have leave to think that such a Paternal Government in a Gentle and Well-temper'd Monarchy is most like the Divine Theocracy over that Nation and consequently where-ever it obtains in any other is most Acceptable and Pleasing unto God as the nearest Approach to the Pattern in the Mount the Primitive Model and Scheme which He contriv'd for his own People And therefore if any Form of Government be of Divine Right more than another such a kind of Monarchy bids fairest for the Character as being a Copy from the Divine Original The Rays of Soveraignty did not indeed dazle the Eyes here so much as in the Tyrannies of the Nations but they were more Benign and better suited to the Nature and Genius of a Free People The Circumstances of Majesty were not so Glittering and Gaudy nor the Power so Absolute and Despotical but was sufficiently qualified to answer all the Necessities both of Prince and People Power is a Wild and often
Liberty And if Men will not be Confin'd by the Society in which they live they Cancel the Obligations to which they are suppos'd to have Consented by Entring into it and so endeavour to Sap and Undermine the Foundation on which it stands and consequently expose Themselves and Others to the same Inconveniencies and Insecurities they were in when there was no Government It is therefore the Interest of Government and of Those that are Protected by it joyntly to oppose such a Principle as will destroy both And when a Government is so Supine and Careless as to suffer Men to Speak Write or Act as they list it is neither True to it Self nor Just to Those that Depend upon it but seems to Conspire with the Enemy to its own Destruction For as when there was No King in Israel every Man did what was right in his own Eyes it is as visible if every Man be allowed to do so there cannot long be a King in Israel Men do not put out their Eyes when they enter into Society but they must not walk afterward so much by the Light Within in things Lawful as by the Light of Authority in things that are to be done and the Light of Faith in the Divine Revelation of the Scriptures in things that are to be believ'd And as wise Governments will not Abridge the Liberties of Men which they have by the Charter of Nature or of Christians which they enjoy by that of the Gospel beyond what is necessary for the Peace or Good Order of the Community so neither should Men be Clamorous for being Circumscrib'd in some few things in their own Nature perfectly Indifferent 3. If the want of Civil Government be so great an Evil Then it is both the Duty and Interest of any People who are fallen into such a Circumstance immediately to apply the proper Remedy by filling the Vacant Throne by a Free Election where they have Power so to do or Peaceable Submission to Those who have a Right without it And the Publick Necessiity of Affairs the Salus Ecclesiae Salus Populi does both Require and Justifie their doing so as well for Gods Honour as their Countrey 's Safety 4. If the want of Civil Government be an occasion of so much Wickedness Mischief What great Reason have these Nations to bless Almighty God for the Restraint He put upon the Hearts and Hands of Men when these Kingdoms were left in such a State Though in some Places the Rabble proceeded to some Excess yet how little Mischief was done in comparison of what All reasonably fear'd would have come to pass When the People were left without Government and an Army was Disbanded but not Dis-arm'd it cou'd be nothing less than the Incontroulable Dominion which God has over the Hearts of Men that Restrain'd their Spirits and Chain'd up their Desires from the utmost Violence even from Sheathing our Swords in one anothers Bowels But on the contrary The Men whose Hands were Mighty found nothing while the Multitude apt enough at other times to run to do Evil now generally stand still to see the Salvation of God and God chose not in the Wind and in the Fire but in a soft still Voice to speak Peace to His People 5. When there was no King in England but the People were left as Sheep without a Shepherd and those in Ireland were Expos'd to the Fury of their Implacable and Inveterate Enemies when the Ship was left to run a Drift among Rocks and Sands without a Pilot What reason have we all to Rejoyce and to Praise God who has committed us to the Care of such a Shepherd who has put the Helm into such a Hand as hath hitherto so Steer'd the good Ship between all Difficulties that we may comfortably hope He will at length carry her into a safe Harbour Blessed be God and blessed be the Name of Their Majesties This Days Assembly opens to us a Fair Prospect of our being upon the Borders of Better Times than we have yet seen We are not as the Israelites in the Text without a King nor without a Priest nor without God in the World as some in so charging us have lyed unto God God has Restor'd our Religion and our Monarchy our Laws and our Law-Makers our Judges as at the First and our Counsellors as in the Beginning I hope we shall not be like them in the other Part by doing every One That which is right in our own Eyes seeking our Selves our Pleasures and our Gains from our Quarters our private Interests either of Parties or Persons in the prejudice of the Common Stake and to the Disservice of their Majesties who have call'd or the People who have sent us hither I hope again we shall not be like them as at other Times Murmuring at Gods Providence because our Deliverance is wrought in Measure and keeps not up with the Vehemence of our desires or Repining at such Miscariages as are inevitably Incident to all great Revolutions Lest our Ingratitude should become an occasion of our Complaints and slacken the full Accomplishment of what we long for with such Impatience Let us not therefore look only on the Dark side of the Cloud on our Personal Sufferings and fret our selves because of the Evil doers but behold the Bright and Amazing Deliverance which God has Wrought for us and rather than still be Complaining let us say with good old Mephibosheth when he lost half his Estate by the Private Accusation of a false Informer Yea let them take all since my Lord the King is Return'd in Peace And now what shall we Render unto the Lord for all the Benefits He has bestowed Since the King is Victorious over our Enemies and we are thereby Restor'd to all those Blessings of which they had unjustly Depriv'd us surely the most just and suitable Acknowledgment we can make is to serve Him in every Station and Relation wherein we have receiv'd advantage in our Religious and Private and Legislative Capacities 1. Let it be right in our Eyes to serve Their Majesties in our Religious Stations by Praying Sincerely and Earnesty for Them by whom the House of Prayer is Restored to us That the God of Israel would Protect the King of Israel and Establish him on the Holy Hill of Sion where his Right Hand hath Set him Let us thus support the hands of our Deliverer while his Armies are Fighting against Amalek that being call'd out of the narrow Scene where his Progenitors Actions were confin'd for the Deliverance of Oppressed Provinces to Assert the Liberties of Europe against the Great Destroyer he may ride Prosperously because of Truth till he see the desire of his Soul 2. Let it be right in our Eyes to serve Them with our Properties and Private Interests to enable them to compleat that Deliverance for which his Majesty so freely Ventur'd his Life among us At least let it appear that we are even in our low Estate to our Power yea and beyond our Power willing of our selves to supply the Necessities of which we have been a great occasion that our Loyalty and Zeal may Provoke many 3. Let it be right in our Eyes to serve them in our Legislative capacities by whom our old Laws are Restor'd to us and we to the Authority of making new Ones without any Challenge of such a Dispensing Power as might render both useless Let us therefore give Consent to and offer Matter for such Laws as will secure their Majesties Government by Promoting the Glory of God and Love and Good-will in the People to their Majesties and to one another by suppressing Idolatry and Vice that by Righteous Laws and Severe Executions and Good Examples all Immorality and Prophaneness may be Punisht and if possible put out of Countenance that so some Stop may be given to that Flood of Impiety That is roll'd in upon us and is become too Strong for Pulpit Reproof or ordinary Discipline It is your Duty Most Noble Lords Most Wise and Worthy Patriots in this your Day to Consider Things that make for Peace and to bear your Testimony against the crying Sins of this Generation which call aloud for Reformation or for Vengeance By frequent Rapines we have almost lost all Sense of Justice By the commonness of Swearing and Cursing all Reverence for God and Holy Things Because of these things our Government is Weakned and Reproach'd our Religion Dishonour'd and the Wrath of God cometh on the Children of Disobedience You cannot serve their Majesties more acceptably who are great Examples of Vertue and scatter Iniquity with their Eyes nor settle their Thrones more securely which are best Establish't by Righteousness nor your own Peace more durably than by retrieving the Credit of our Worship and making it a support of Vertue as well as of the Protestant Religion Then Righteousness and Peace will Kiss each other Truth will look down from Heaven and Glory shall dwell in our Land But if after so great a Deliverance we shall again Return or rather still Continue in our Follies and our Vanities in our Filthiness and Intemperance in our Oppressions and our Plunders esteeming all right in our own Eyes whereby the Lust of the Flesh the Lust of the Eye or the Pride of Life is nourished and pamper'd we vainly trust in Princes or in Armies tho never so Brave and Fortunate Our boasting of a True Religion is vain also while we hold it in Unrighteousness nor will it stay long with us upon such dishonourable Terms God knows how to Punish as well as to Deliver He can give us up to our own Hearts Lusts to Bite and Devour and Consume one another by Civil Wars or He can hiss for our Enemies from Abroad and bring upon us a Chushan or an Eglon or stir up the Conquer'd Philistine and Arm the Canaanite yet in the Land against us and the Thorns in our Sides will prove Skeins and Daggers at our Hearts and Fire come out of the Bramble and destroy the Cedars of Lebanon But I hope better things of you while I thus speak Which God of His Infinite Mercy grant for His sake who speaks better things To whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all Honour and Glory for ever Amen FINIS