Selected quad for the lemma: nation_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
nation_n	king_n	people_n	samuel_n	1,198	5	10.5950	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A76788	Endevors aiming at the glory of God, that peace & truth may meet together: wherein is contained the excellency, benefit, and necessity of good government and governors: a loving reply to Mr William Prynnes speech made to the House of Commons, and afterwards published. Some matters are propounded to the consideration of the ministry; and also to particular (and to all) opinions. The first, purest, best and most blessed form and manner of government, prescribed by God, (and recorded in Gods sacred word;) together with the way of entrance, or Gods calling of persons to places of chief government, the great consequence thereof. Wherein is shewed, that government by succession, from the father to the son, was none of Gods institution, in the first and purest times. And also the government by Judges is plainly proved to be the best form of government, being Gods immediate direction, most blessed and approved for Gods glory, and for a peoples greatest good, comfort, and safety. / By John Blackleach.	Blackleach, John.	1650 (1650)	Wing B3074; Thomason E590_5; ESTC R206330	147,760	171

David and some others Answ That proveth not in the least That the Government of the Kings was to be compared to that Government by Judges because this Government by Judges was Gods prescription and direction but that Government by Kings was the prescription of the People the Peoples invention in imitation of the Heathen round about and this was expresly forbidden by God before in Deuteronomy Thou shalt not follow the manner of the Heathen Nations round about And it was expresly against the Counsel of God recorded by Samuel it was against Gods Will for though God did permit Kings to be yet he did not originally appoint them but contrarily God dehorteth the people from having Kings in a vehement manner and taking it in the highest degree to be both the breach of Gods Commands or Institutions and likewise a very forsaking of God recorded by the Prophet Samuel 1 Sam. 8.7 They have not cast thee away but they have cast me away And further note That God out of his tender compassion to the people notwithstanding that they had cast him away in the form of their Government yet God lovingly admonisheth the people God giveth warning to the people what they should get by having a Government by Kings namely 1 Sam. 8.11 This shall be the manner of the King that shall raign over you He shall take your sons and your daughters your fields and your vineyards your servants your cattel and your sheep and ye shall cry out by reason of your oppressions but I will not hear you in that day Further consider That God did permit divorce in sundry cases and did permit the Israelites to have more wives then one this matter to my apprehension hath a better footing and much fairer shew of Gods approbation then the Government by Kings and notwithstanding Christ our Lord saith That this was not originally right God did not in the first and purest Institution ordain this matter yet God did act in many cases and blessed children and married persons in this way In the first being of Kings God did act in this cause as namely God chose Saul and David yet nevertheless God did expresly by the Prophet Samuel in threatning manner admonish and foretel the people That Kings would oppress the people and make them cry out and GOD would not alter the Government by Kings when they would Observe we well That where men do not cleave close to Gods Ordinations to his Institutions and do not prefer the Wisdom of God before their own wisdom it is a righteous thing with God to suffer them to smart and to endure bitter afflictions when we shall not have ability to help our selves We have had experience of Kings from Samuels time to this day and now God hath given such an opportunity as hath not been a long season now we have comfortable hope that God will give and restore Judges as at the first and Counsellors as at the beginning Oh dearly beloved whosoever thou art hinder not Gods Work of Reformation left thou beest found a fighter against God remember that our forefathers have been a gainsaying people let not us I pray you resist the good Spirit of his grace 2. But further consider That although David and some other Kings were better then the rest God would not suffer the Rod of his Wrath to lie always so heavy as at sometimes yet even David and Solomon and others were not blessed with the like measure of grace that the Judges were blessed with Consider did Moses Joshua Gideon Samuel did they kill innocent Vriah Did they commit Adultery with Bathsheba Did they number the people with David Did they set up Idolatry or suffer Idolatry Did they build sumptuous houses and gardens and orchards as Solomon Did they commit such abominations as many other Kings did Consider of it That this Government by Judges instituted by God himself in these first and purest times was the best Government it was most for Gods glory it was according to his will and it was most for the peoples good 3. Consider That although God commendeth David in the general yet that proved nothing in this particular case namely it neither proveth to them be of Gods first Institution nor any Institution not that place for instance if a master of a family having an hundred servants some of these may be as personable nay they may some of them be beloved of the master and be rulers in the family but this doth not prove That the form of their government being a form of their own invention was or is so good a form as that form of government that the master himself appointed We ought warily to distinguish between those matters that God doth permit and between those matters that God doth institute and ordain Adam our grandfather sinned by eating of the forbidden fruit yet nevertheless God made some of his posterity Instruments of his glory and they were beloved of God yet it doth not thereby follow That Adams condition was so good after as before God saith David was a man after his own heart but it neither followeth thereby That all Kings were men after Gods heart in that sence nor doth it thereby follow That the government by Kings was so good a government as the government by Judges for that is against the express letter of the Scripture and against the experience of all ages to this present Object Doth not God say That Kings shall be thy nursing fathers and Queens thy nursing mothers Answ This sheweth That although the people had deserved that God should make all Kings to be enemies or scourges to the people for rejecting God their King and for their evil and obstinacy in forsaking the first and best form of government by Judges a form prescribed and blessed by God yet this sheweth That God would not always be alike offended he would let some Kings be nursing fathers although many were evil towards God and the people Another instance consider A father having many children employeth or there is employed divers nurses some of his own chusing and some of his childrens chusing the father considering the childrens weakness and offence in chusing other for nurses without his order he doth neither allow of their act in chusing nor of the persons although he may forgive his children part of their offence and promiseth that some of these should prove nurses to them though many should prove crosses this doth neither approve of his childrens act in breaking his way prescribed neither doth this indulgence or mercy in the father encourage or warrant other children to follow that way not prescribed but expresly witnessed against One instance more to open the matter consider Certain men being to go to a place far distant from them there are divers ways that lead to the place the master of the company he sheweth to them the best way but the company are obstinate and will to King and Princes by descent without enquiring Gods counsel

note that God rejected him from being King 1 Sam. 15. ver 26. Thou hast cast away the word of the Lord and the Lord hath cast away thee that thou shalt not be King over Jsrael Ver. 28. Then Samul said unto him the Lord hath rent the Kingdome of Israel from thee this day And note now that when Saul was deposed Chap. 16.14 The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul and an evill spirit sent of the Lord vexed him Wee may note that because the people made David King a man chosen by God and not by the peoples rash proceedings that God gave to David his good and blessed Spirit 1 Sam. 16.13 Then Samuel tooke an horne of Oile and anointed him David in the middest of his Brethren and the spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward here we may note that it is no vaine thing that God should appoint our governors for us God let the people taste of the difference between Kings and Iudges in that Salomon set up or countenanced Idolatry and laid great taxations upon the people yet it did not extend so far not by very much as afterwards the People felt under the government of other Kings which were set up rashly by the people without such an immediate call and for ought I know not being anointed with Oile by any true Prophet of God This I note the rather because I have respect to God his expresse Command and Direction which was never reversed to this very Day recorded Deut. 17.14 where God saith if thou shalt say I will set a King over mee like as all the Nations that are about mee Ver. 25. Tou shalt make him King over thee whom the Lord thy God shall chuse I shall only at the present observe these two notes from this place first that God doth not hereby either command or allow that the People should set up a Government by Kings for the Lord saith if thou shalt say I will set a King over mee this came to passe in the Dayes of Samuel Then the people they would have a King the People here did not inquire of God first now it doth not follow that because the People said wee will have a King that therefore God doth either approve or allow of this matter but the direct contrary appeareth 1 Sam. 8. in most eminent manner But secondly I do observe that God saith thou shalt if thou wilt be wilfull and have a King yet thou shalt make him King whom the Lord thy God shal chuse here I put a reall difference between a King or governor being chosen by God immediately and betweene the choise that the People make I purpose if God will to speak more of this in place afterwards But this Rule also the People soone forsooke namely they made themselves Kings of their owne chusing wherein I conceive they did not inquire of God who should be the man therefore the Lord saith they had Princes and hee knew it not that is to say they did not according to the Rule inquire of God who should be King Thus much to shew that it was better with the People when they eyed God and kept close to the Rule when God chose the person then it was when they fell more fouly as afterwards they did but this still doth not prove that God did institute that forme of government by Kings or much lesse that this forme of government was as good and as well approved of by God or so blessed as the government by Judges But to go on to speake more punctually or more particularly to the being of Kings I shall endeavour according to the measure of grace received to speak of them in true proportion as God hath spoken of them in the holy and sacred Scriptures The first King that I finde recorded was Abimeleck Iudges 9. it is noted that this Man was no lawfull governor appointed by God but one that usurped the Kingdome because he entred not by and according to the true way wherein and whereby God had prescribed which I believe was principally in regard that the People did not enquire of God who should govern them but contrarily the People chose him out of or for sinister respect because of affinity kindred and also because hee entered by force wee may see what is recorded Iudges 9. By this mans government there were very sad events or fruits that followed or sprung for he was the occasion of much evill and bloodshed this serveth to warne us to take heed that we enquire of God who shall govern us and that we do follow the most cleare and evident Rules and Presidents prescribed and recorded in the sacred Scriptures the sure Rules of Truth our Saviour teacheth that the true Shepherd entereth at the true doore that is according to the revealed will of God And on the contrary those Wolves and Foxes do enter in at the window that is as I conceive by some way that God hath not prescribed as by friends out of by respects or by Fraude Force Mony Beauty Personage Eloquence or such like all of them not in such away as is prescribed in the most unerring Rules of Truth After him arose Saul to be King concerning his person he was truly and rightfully called being chosen by God but concerning the forme of government by Kings this was the Peoples invention in imitation of the Heathen Nations as appeareth 1 Sam. 8.5 The people said make us a King to judge us like all Nations from this place I observe that it was not the Peoples demand to have this or that man in particular to be their King but they desire onely to have a King By which it appeareth that this sinne lay not in regard of the person but it was in respect to the forme of government before they were governed by Iudges which Forme of govermnent God did immediately prescribe and owne it and blesse it but this Forme of government by Kings the people they did invent it in imitation of the Nations round about concerning those Nations God had expresly said that they should not follow the manners and customs of the Nations But secondly against this way of government by Kings God doth I believe expresly evidently and eminently oppose himself in these particulars First God saith that by this meanes or way that the people here lusted after they had cast off God from being their King or reigning over them Which is expressed 1 Sam. 8.7 They have not cast thee away but they have cast mee away that I should not reigne over them this I conceive is plainly implied and expressed that the greatnesse of their sinne lay in regard of the forme and not in regard of the person as if God should have said they have not so much sinned in desiring another Governor although I believe this also was their sinne but they now have rejected the forme of government by me immediately prescribed Further God opposeth this forme of Government by

spring forth it causeth the Corn to grow whereby man is nourished Now consider whence or how this creature the Sun is so wonderfully and excellently made is it not from the wisdom and excellency of the most high God that made it and governeth it Now let us but consider That if God should but with-hold his hand if God should but withdraw himself his wisdom his power his faithfulness his skill for want of such a Work-master these glorious works of God would be confused and fail This sheweth that there is a necessity for the well-being of matters of great consequence especially such as are the Governments over and amongst men that the Governors be chosen men we cannot be too circumspect what Governors we do receive and that they be men chosen of God c. If we err in this Governor we shall finde that great trouble will follow Consider likewise the Stars of Heaven which although they are to us innumerable yet every Star hath his proper place they go their appointed journeys and courses which they keep without jarring or alteration performing those operations to them appointed Consider likewise the Tydes how they do ebb and flow keeping within the limits of time and proportion Thus far they flow and so return in their due and appointed seasons And doth not this come to pass from the excellency and perfection of that God that created and is the Governor of them Consider likewise amongst men in every great and useful work if the guide and governor of the work be skilful and able doth not the work committed to him prosper proportionably On the contrary if a foolish man a disordered person have the government in chief of such matters are they not likely to fail and be confused Consider likewise in a Ship when the Master is godly wise skilful and able is not the Voyage by him likely to come to good issue But on the contrary if a foolish disordered unjust man be the Master is not the undertaking endangered if not overthrown And is not this matter namely the Government of a Common-wealth to be looked upon with as much regard Ought not men to be very heedful and circumspect who and what manner of persons they accept to govern them Doth not this matter immediately concern Gods glory Doth it not concern the good and comfort of our Souls of our Bodies of our Estates and of our Children Yes certainly the matter is of great concernment And yet are we not to lament this namely That men oft rush upon the chusing of Governors as the horse into the battel with too little fear or wit Men are too much of these tempers First Either they will admit of no Government whence springeth misery confusion and every evil work by this means some say as Pharaoh said to Moses Exod. 5.2 Who is the Lord that I should hear his voyce and let Israel go I know not the Lord neither will I let Israel go Thus will it be with many who acknowledg none to be their Rulers And some David speaketh of Psal 12.4 who say in their hearts Our tongues are our own who is Lord over us These men know not what they do they desire that which would assuredly make them miserable But of this in another place if God will Or secondly Others they desire to have Government but they consider not of how great concernment Government is of Hence it comes to pass that like the people in Samuels time men will have a King they will have a Governor not duly weighing and considering what maner of Governor they desire whether he be godly or ungodly whether he be wise or foolish whether he be a man sent of God or a man of their own inordinate desires whether he come in to be the true Shepherd by the door of Gods Word according to the rule there prescribed or whether he come in at the window or creep in some other way by friends beauty riches eloquence fraud flattery Thus lamentable experience teacheth us hath been the practise of the People and Nations from the time of Samuel to this day too often Hence it cometh to pass that so many Wolves enter into the sheep-fold who miserably devour persecute destroy the sheep The consideration of these miseries which arise from and attend upon those people that have wolves in sheeps clothing instead of true Shepherds occasions us to search and enquire what may be the true ground or fountain whence this evil springeth There are two main and principal Causes which occasioned God to suffer Jsrael to be so misled so seduced so deceived so afflicted The one Reason was Because the people slighted dis-esteemed and undervalued this pearl of great price namely to have God to be their King and to have him immediately to choose their Governors for them The second Reason was Because the people did not diligently observe and cleave to the Commandments of God but instead thereof they followed their own inventions And if we shall warily consider what the cause hath been and is why the People and Nations have done and do so miscarry in their Governments it ariseth from these two fore-named Grounds namely the slighting Gods Mercies and departing from prescribed Rules For the first of these read Deut. 6.11 to 16. where God admonisheth them to take heed and to beware lest when they had abundance when they had eaten and were full that they did not then slight disesteem or forget God Reason God gave them in this admonition as namely because vers 12. God brought them out of Egypt out of a low condition vers 15. and because God was a jealous God among them and lest the wrath of God were kindled against them to destroy them Notwithstanding those and many other Exhortations and Cautions which the Lord from time to time laid before them to warn them yet they soon and often turned aside from God the Fountain of living water and digged to themselves broken Cisterns that would not hold good water And touching the second namely their departing from the Rules prescribed Moses did often admonish them as in this Chapter vers 16. Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God c. Vers 17. But you shall keep diligently the Commandments of the Lord your God and his Testimonies and his Ordinances c. Dearly beloved this is very apparent That Government is of very great concernment Therefore it is to be prized at a great value We ought with great diligence to seek and to search the Scriptures that so we may find the right and pure way prescribed owned and blessed by God for the choice of our Governors By this means we shall obtain a blessing from God we shall have true Shepherds we shall discover wolves in sheeps clothing who slily creep in to devour and to destroy If God so often willeth us to take heed to keep all his Commands then certainly this which is of so great concernment is not to be slighted but

valued at a high price Now to the end that we may more deeply imprint this in our affections and that we may never forget the great good and benefit of good Government it behoves us to consider what should be the Reason that God permitteth such corrupt Governors to be in the world It is not because God wants either Power Wisdom or Will to do us good for as a father pitieth his children so and much more is our Gods favor toward us And as the Heavens are higher then the Earth so is his Mercy c. God is of great bounty abundant in goodness rich in mercy If it be so as it is certainly so then we may learn this That the cause why God suffereth us to err in this matter of Government is for his Glory and for our learning for our good Good things are best seen to be good by their contraries The benefit of light is best discerned when we have been in darkness The absence of the Sun and cold in Winter causeth us to value the benefit of his nearer presence in the Summer The full loatheth the hony-comb but to the hungry bitter things seem sweet When God brought Jsrael out of Egypt he could have brought them to Canaan a nearer way God seeth it meet that we must sow in tears before we reap in joy God placed Adam our Grandfather in happiness he valued an apple at a higher price then Gods favor therefore God made him to know sorrow that seeing the difference he might be more wary afterwards and value better things according to their worth Israel was Gods first born Son and God bestowed this favor not to be enough valued upon them namely this That he did immediately appoint the persons that should govern them But Israel were full and fat they were wanton and slighted Gods mercy in this matter Therefore God suffered them to reap the fruit of their inventions They disliked that form of Government which God had prescribed which God had owned and blessed They would alter that form of Government appointed by God namely that of Judges and they would have a King Against this form of Government by Kings God expresly declared his dislike for here note it was not about the person but about the form of Government the difference lay directly between Government by Judges and Government by Kings They were at the first content that God should choose the person and to make him King who the Lord their God chose But after they fell more grosly they chose Kings themselves without enquiring of God as I purpose if God will to shew afterwards Well consider we of it God gave them a King in his wrath c. Note well what God saith Deut. 28.47 48. Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness and with a good heart for the abundance of all things Therefore thou shalt serve thy enemies in hunger and in thirst and in nakedness and in need of all things and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck c. Beloved friends Let us not cast away our Reason that noble faculty of our Souls consider that both they and we have had a long and large experience of the difference between Judges and Kings Compare those Judges of Israel before Kings were with those Kings that were after them Consider this That of or amongst those Judges immediately appointed by God from Moses to Samuel there was not one of them but were blessed by God his good Spirit helped them to judg righteously Secondly God made them a blessing to the People they did not addict themselves to voluptuous pleasure nor to build stately Palaces not to idolatrous wives not to many wives not to voluptuous diet or much wine not to multiplicity of attendants not to Plays Pastimes Hawking and Hunting not to Oppression of their Brethren not to idleness not to swearing profaneness They did not nourish and promote and put great Titles of Honor upon men and keep company with such most familiarly which openly and often blasphemed and despised God the most high God by swearing revelling whoring and what not profaneness nor did those blessed Judges neglect the due administration of Justice and Judgment Quest But what did these Judges then What manner of persons were they Ans First Note that God sent them they came into the sheepfold by the door by Gods appointment they did not creep slighly in by beauty friends eloquence mony indiscreet Elections of the people not by any unjust fraud or force Hence it came to pass that God blessed them with a good portion of his good and blessed Spirit God owned them Hence it came to pass likewise That the sheep owned them and willingly obeyed their voyce and followed them in the paths of righteousness These Judges likewise loved the People see how Moses intercedes and pleads with God by prayer and supplication for them Oh it is a precious benefit to people to enjoy godly Governours These Judges were humble meek painfull they did not swell with conceit that their veins were full of Royal bloud For they still acknowledg the people to be their brethren It 's said of Moses when Jethro came to see him that he judged the people from morning to evening And afterwards his burthen or charge was not laid aside by Jethro's counsel only it was eased It is said of Samuel That besides the pains he took where he dwelt in judging the people he likewise went about and judged the people in other places year by year Now dear friends concerning the fruits that came by Kings I appeal to God to his sacred word to the Records to the Chronicles to the experience both of our own and other Nations whether Kings have been to be compared with those Judges have not Kings been addicted to those vices and very empty of such graces as were requisite for men in such eminent places For though some may cavil and object that some Kings were good I shall if God permit and assist answer I hope to satisfaction both this and all other objections that I have yet heard of and can remember that tend to confirm and strengthen the continuance and beings of Kings amongst us Because I judge that from evident grounds plainly laid down in the sacred Scriptures the word of God the most true and the most unerring rule to direct us Kings were neither the first nor the best way of Government Consider likewise those precious promises of God who hath not left us without hope for the word of God seemeth to me plainly to declare and shew that in these last days which days and times I believe to be these verytimes or times very near approaching as by the opinion of many Godly and learned men in which God will destroy corrupt Government and Governors and will exalt his mountain in the top of the Mountains and will give and restore to us Judges as at the first and Counsellors as at the beginning

forme of government which God did in his wisdom appoint to his beloved first borne Sonne in the first and purest times of government from Moses to Samuel was much better then that government of Kings which succeeded afterwards in more corrupted times when God was angry with the people and was such a government as the people invented in imitation of the Heathens Secondly this government of God was better and the Peoples worse because God blessed his owne Directions and Prescriptions It is to be noted that of all the Iudges that God appointed immediately or in which the people asked counsell of God those governours God blessed them with his good and holy Spirit all of them from Moses to Samuel there was not one of them an evill governour that I can find and they all proved blessings to the people But those governors that the people chose and invented themselves many or most of them God did not so blesse with his good and holy Spirit and they proved curses and crosses to the people and were great afflictions to the people as appeared in Abimeleck in Ieroboam in Ahab and others Next let us consider That this people the children of Israel had the best forme of government from Moses to Samuel which appeareth from the considerations of diverse Scriptures Exod. 5. God there saith yee shall be my chiefe treasure though all the people of the Earth be mine this place sheweth that God preferred this people at this time above all other people therefore it may plainly be gathered that God took more speciall regard to appoint them a better government then other Nations but other Nations had Kings at that time and God prescribed and appointed to them Iudges at that time Therefore government by Iudges in that first and purest times were better then government by Kings Read Exod. 33.16 So shall I and thy people have preheminence above all people that are on the Earth here again the same is repeated to shew that this people had preheminence above all other people and should they be preferred in smaller matters and not in this matter of government being a matter of the greatest concernment Read Levit. 9.23 and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the People from this place it appeared that in this most excellent mercy they were far preferred before other people for did any other People see the glory of the Lord as they did no verily Read Levit. 26.12 Deut. 4.5 Behold J have taught you Ordinances and Lawes as the Lord my God commanded mee that yee should do Ver. 6. keepe them therefore and do them for that is your wisdome and understanding Ver. 7. For what Nation is so great to whom the Gods came so neare unto them as the Lord our God is neare unto us in all c. Ver. 8. And what Nation is so great that hath Lawes so righteous as all this Law that I set before you this day Ver. 9. But take heede to thy selfe and keepe thy soule diligently that thou forget not these things and that they depart not out of thy heart all the dayes of thy life but teach them thy sonnes and thy sonnes sonnes Ver. 2. Yee shal put nothing to the Word which I command you neither shall you take ought there from that yee may keepe the Commandements of the Lord your God c. Deare Friends let us well weigh the very expresse and direct force of such a plain downright Rule of God God tells them that they had Lawes and Commandements such as no people on Earth had the like Consider what was meant by Lawes and Precepts and Ordinances This is meant by it the whole frame of their government For Rules and Lawes and Ordinances implyeth most plainly two things the governours and the governed for else to what purpose had God given the lawes if he had not appointed governors to see those lawes executed We see it to be of necessity and most principall concernment that in all combinations or societies wherein many act together there must be Order which is nothing else but government We see likewise that this government being regulated and ordered wisely justly mercifully c. This puts a beauty upon all matters to be acted by Societies This Order in Government it puts a shining luster upon all pieces of worke and upon all Societies Do but withdraw a wise and good government and let either a foole or a negligent person or a disordered Epicure or a Tyrant mannage actions and you shall presently find that Workes or Societies guided by such will either turn into a Chaos or into disorder or at the least in the best cases the lustre and beauties of such societies will be taken away That which I shall then gather from these Scriptures is that no Nation under Heaven had so good a government which is plainly expressed in that none had so righteous Lawes and Ordinances as this people of Jsrael had now in this time of the Judges now in these first and purest times now in this time when God shewed his glory so eminently now in this time when God came so neare unto this people as no Nation upon Earth had such a government such governors which is plainly implied and expressed under these words Lawes and Ordinances This being true then it followeth plainly That this government by Judges was better then the government by Kings for at that time they had Kings in their Heathen governments the Egyptians they had a King a Tyrant an unrighteous oppressor a ripe of the Devill but God saith that at that very time the Ordinances and Lawes the whole-frame of their governors and government was better then all other Nations did enjoy then certainly it was better then the government by Kings We can no way evade or avoid in a plain way of righteousnesse this truth it followeth plainly directly and strongly But further it appeareth clearly that this government was better then that government by Kings because God in his wisdom saw this government to be best for his Church and people God was the Author of this government by Iudges God did prescribe this government and blesse this government And God is not as man his works are not imperfect God seeth and knoweth at once what is best consider then That God is likewise unchangeable Concerning the Government by Kings God was not ignorant of it he saw that but it plainly appeared that he approved not of it because nevertheles God prescribed to the people this way of Government by Judges this was Gods own Ordinance and God saith This Government was the best no Nation had so good a Government take it in what respect you will or can take it Further let us consider That these Ordinances of God these Laws this Government prescribed and blessed by God himself do continue in force to this day they were never changed nor repealed to this very day Object But do we not find that there were some good Kings as

ENDEVORS Aiming at the GLORY OF GOD THAT PEACE TRUTH may meet together Wherein is contained the excellency benefit and necessity of good Government and Governors A loving Reply to Mr William Prynnes Speech made to the House of Commons and afterwards published Some matters are propounded to the Consideration of the Ministry and also to particular and to all Opinions The first purest best and most blessed form and manner of Government prescribed by God and recorded in Gods sacred Word together with the way of entrance or Gods calling of persons to places of chief Government the great consequence thereof Wherein is shewed That Government by Succession from the Father to the Son was none of Gods Institution in the first and purest Times And also the Government by Judges is plainly proved to be the best form of Government being Gods immediate direction most blessed and approved for Gods glory and for a peoples greatest Good Comfort and Safety By JOHN BLACKLEACH Isai 1.26 And I will restore thy Judges as at the first and thy Counsellers as at the beginning afterwards thou shalt be called a City of Righteousness and a faithful City Deut. 28.1 If thou shalt obey diligently the voyce of the Lord thy God and observe and do all his Commandments then the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all the Nations of the Earth Gen. 49.18 O Lord I have waited for thy Salvation LONDON Printed by John Macock for the Author and are to be sold in Popes-head-Alley 1656. To my dearly beloved Country-men of England and to all of what Country soever namely to all such as love the true onely glorious and blessed God and endeavor unfeignedly to do his Will to such as have obtained like precious faith with us Grace Mercy and Peace be to you through the acknowledging of God and of Jesus Christ our Lord. Dearly Beloved UPon the serious and often consideration of that happy and blessed condition and unparaleld benefit which the blessed Angels do and the elect Children of God shall enjoy to Eternity in having God for their defence and their exceeding great reward The benefits thereof for number and greatness far exceed what the eye of man hath seen or the ear heard or what the heart of man can conceive Amongst other priviledges and benefits this is not the least That they shall have God to govern them whose wisdom is most absolutely perfect to lead them and to direct them Revel 19.11 John saith I saw heaven open and behold a white horse and he that sate upon him was called faithful and true and he judgeth and fighteth righteously Vers 12. And his eyes were as a flame of fire and on his head were many crowns and he had a name written that no man knew but himself Vers 13. And he was clothed in a garment dipt in blood and his Name was called The Word of God Vers 14. And the hosts which were in Heaven followed him upon white horses c. Vers 15. And out of his mouth went a sharp sword that with it he shall smite the Heathen and rule them c. From this place being full of consolation I shall onely collect this one point of Observation pertinent to the matter by me intended namely That the whole hoast of Heaven the blessed Angels the Saints and Children of God shall have this unmatchable this exceeding great benefit namely They shall be guided ordered and governed by the Word of God All the Hoasts of Heaven followed the Word of God upon white horses Which sheweth That this shall be the happiness of the blessed Angels and Saints to be guided by and subject to the Word of God We may easily discern our own weakness in guiding our selves we all like sheep are apt to go astray and to run into many dangers But God is infinitely wise to direct us he is strong to protect us he is rich in mercy abundant in mercy as the heavens are higher then the earth so is his mercy He likewise is able to fill and to satisfie our Souls with good things with him is the well-spring of life Glorious things are spoken of thee O thou City of God By this means namely by being guided by God we shall not need to fear we may lie down and rest in peace because the Lord is our Keeper read Psal 23. The consideration of this leads me further to consider of Government amongst men here on earth Upon diligent enquiry into the revealed will and minde of God recorded in the sacred Scriptures I finde That on earth it is a matter of the highest concernment to have good Government good Shepherds such as are sent of God Search the Scriptures and you shall find That when the People enjoyed godly wise faithful Governors they were endowed with many other singular and great blessings from God On the contrary when their Governors were corrupt the People were disturbed oppressed and afflicted The Scriptures are so full so copious so evident in the proof of this that I shall spend the less time in quotations Read the story of the Judges the book of Kings and the Chronicles of Israel and that being blessed to you by God will help you clearly to discern the truth of this matter The experience of all Ages will shew That from good and evil Governors proceeded the prosperity and adversity of the Nations Search the Chronicles and Records of the Ages and Times from Moses his time to these days wherein we live and it will evidently appear That from this principle from this root namely from Government arose the prosperity or adversity of the People and Nations If we look but back from the time of King Henry the eight we shall see this State tossed to and fro suitably to those persons that were the principal Governors and that both in religious duties and in other temporal matters The experience the Records of all Ages do abundantly testifie being duly weighed and considered of what great concernment Government is of to render a people blessed or despised of God To the intent that we may the better and more clearly see the singular benefit that it is to have a good Government I shall propound briefly some particulars to consideration For instance look upon the universal works the Creation of God Consider the Sun how it goeth his due course not failing to perform his great journey round about this world in twenty four hours the Sun knoweth his rising and his going down not altering nor failing one minute of time nor failing one foot of ground in all his great and unwearied journeys O how excellent are all thy works O God Consider likewise those excellent vertues and operations with which the Sun is beautified and enriched as namely First Light which sheweth man the way and work he is to perform without light Man is miserable Secondly The Sun heateth the air and comforteth man and all creatures Thirdly The Sun causeth the bud of the herb to