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

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A86660	The happiness of a people in the wisdome of their rulers directing and in the obedience of their brethren attending unto what Israel ougho [sic] to do recommended in a sermon before the Honourable Governour and Council, and the respected Deputies of Mattachusets [sic] colony in New-England. : Preached at Boston, May 3d, 1676, being the day of election there. / By William Hubbard ...	Hubbard, William, 1621 or 2-1704.	1676 (1676)	Wing H3209; ESTC W12661	72,888	77

then from the executioner or officer of Justice 3. The third and last branch of the Magistrates care about Religion is to reform it when it is grown corrupt or is in tendency thereunto In clearing of which I need not stay long this part of their power so undeniably following upon the other two ex natura rei To whom doth it belong more properly to repair the house then to them that first laid the foundation and set it up As the first famous Kings of Israel prepared the matter and erected the Temple of God 〈◊〉 Jerusalem so the following Kings took it to be their duty to repair and put it in order again Solomon put out Abatha● as an unmeet person from the office of the priesthood no reason can be rendred why the Kings and Princes of our times may not do the like if the case be the same or if the like unworthiness be found in the persons of them that minister about holy things Idolatry was suppressed by Asa Jehosaphat Hezekiah and Josiah and the worship of God restored to the first Institution What hath been done by Christian Emperours and Kings in all former ages to our present dayes is well known by the History of those times by the Laws Edicts and Constitutions left upon Record enacted by their power But still we must keep in our minds that the power so exerted by the civil Magistrate supream o● subordinate is to be understood cumulativè not privativè so they that take it to be their duty to abolish Catholicorum Hierarchiam doe not in the stead thereof establish Poli icorum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Uzz ah must not meddle with the exercise of the Priests office although he may and ●ught to require those that enjoy such offices to perform their duty As Paul or the Collossians may or should exhort Archippus to fullfill the ministry he hath received in the Lord to fullfill it The Magistrate may require and command it and prevent the corruption of the Church by removing such and substituting others in their room and in their stead 2. We are in the next place to consider of the political concernments of those who are the Heads of Israel the which are of two sorts Civil or Military i. e. take care it be done by them whom it concerns 1. For the civill concernments of the Le●ders in Israel there are exigen●s in reference to this as well as the former that require much prudence and skill to know what Israel ought to doe in and about the same There are two things principally to be attended here 1. The moderation of the civill power to a due Temperament 2. The faithfull improvement of it for the publick good For the first it is very true which a learned person observes that power is a l●quor very apt to overflow i● what vess●l soever it is put unless it be temp●red with a due proportion of Wisdome and Goodness and is apt though never so necessary in it self to prove pernicious and destructive to them that are concerned in it It is very observable that God gave Israel Laws Judicial as well as Ceremoniall leaving as little as might be to the arb●triment of civill Rulers And that hath been the continual care of prudent Law givers to abate the height of Soveraignty by a meet Temperament of some of the inferiour Sort. Such were the Ephori at Sparta of old the Tribunes at Rome and the Delegates of people in most modern Kingdomes and States as well as amongst our selves And it is noted by a very judicious Interpreter that when the people of Israel would not be satisfied without a king God ordered Samuel to write the manner of the Kingdome in a Book 1. Sam. 10.25 That is the fundamental Laws of the Kingdome to temper Monarchy with a liberty befitting his owne people and with equity toward a Nation which of its own free will did chuse a King and with a benignity of Goverment of Brethren of the same race to withstand the abuse of an absolute power which the peoples blind desire might have caused the new King to have run into As Diodate speaks upon that Text As for the improvement of this power the titles given to such Rulers in the Text and other places of the Scripture as a sufficient intimation of the duty of those that are called to the exercise thereof As they are heads so they ought to go before the members of the civil body by their pious and grave examples as well as by their prudent Counsels and their just and wholsome Laws for t is true which one hath longum iter per praecepta breve efficax per exempla examples of Rulers are always observed to take more place with their people then their precepts Posterity will as much honour the p●e●y of him that left a good patern of honesty or bounty as they will the wisdome of him that left a good body of just and useful Laws And some Princes have inherited the title and surname of good and liberal as well as for other perfections of wisdome or justice This way also is more fruitful in the propagating and increasing virtues Autor est b●norum consequentium qui bonum relinquit exemplum As on the other hand a people are apt to be leavened and hardened in vice by the evil example of their Governours Have any of the Rulers believed on him as they speak i● John you know David would not yield to an unequal Distribution of the body although thereby greater advantage might have accrued to his own person by which self-denying example so good a custome or standing Law in Israel had its first original We know also how much benefit hath followed such Examples in Nehemiah and others who have been a means to provoke others to the like acts of goodness and charity by their practices They are as Pillars that uphold the Foundation of the state which in a sense may be said to be built thereon David complains of the dissolution of the state in those times before he was called to bear up the pillars of it Rulers indeed if they are built like arches that clasp in all round together the more weight there is laid upon them the firmer they stand but being disunited or not joynted in well together they weaken the authority of each other and hasten the ruine of the whole It was noted of Themistocles and Aristides who alwayes had their private quarrels at home that when they were sent abroad upon publick service they never carried their particular co●tests b●yond the bounds of their own Country a commendable patern for others to imitate who as they are called also Corner stones ought carefully to endeavour not only to keep up but unite the whole building together They are the Watch-men set upon the Gates of Jerusalem to descry danger afar off which hath its truth in reference to civil Magistrates as well as spiritual Watch-men by the consent of the best Interpreters

when the Brethren are valiant and resolute in the execution as their Leaders are wise in their conduct That obedience to the commands of their Superiours is intended in a great measure in the Text I deny not but what might be required here of that nature may be gathered from what was said under the Head of order treated of in the first place In this place therefore I shall confine my self only to that of their courage and resolution which though in the last place to be spoken to yet is not the least thing considerable in a flourishing state for otherwise through the cowardize and slothfulness of a people with other vices attending thereon after ages may easily lose all that riches wealth and honour which the wisdome and valour of the preceding have obtained as may be seen in the dayes of the Judges that succeeded Joshuah and of the Kings that succeeded David and Solomon Hyram concludes the prosperity of Israel from the wisdome of David and Solomon his successour to be sure when wise Leaders are attended with valiant people it is easie to foretell the prosperity of such a nation The very name of David and his mighty men that were with him though weary and weak-handed as Achitophel wisely suggested was enough to fright Absolom and all the men of Israel from pursuing their advantage I shall here therefore take occasion to discourse somewhat of that eminent vertue so necessary for the flourishing of a people disposed into a well ordered polity Valour is an inward virtue of the minde enabling us to persist in our duty notwithstanding the difficulty or danger thereof They are not a little mistaken that think nothing is required to valour but a daring confidence to fight ut non pena martyrem sic nec pugna fortem seà causa facit It is a lawful striving as the Apostle tells us that deserves the Garland we must know therefore that there are four ingredients necessary to the constitutioo of a valiant minde 1. The first is magnanimity or greatness of mind when the Spirit is raised to such a degree of courage as not to stoop to low and mean things though it should be to compass some seeming great adventage It was the commendation of the worthies of God that they accepted not of deliverance sc upon low and base terms which may be imposed by Adversaries Paul will rather dy then make his glorying void a valiant mind will rather lay down his life then keep it upon dishonourable terms If the men of J●besh-Gilead or Ahab afterwards had accepted of their lives or peace upon the ignominious tearms offered by the supposed Conquerer it had been a thing unworthy of the Israel of God Nor will Nehemiah lose his honour as he was Governour by fleeing to save his life in an hiding place of security So neither doth Christian humility require a man to stoop to any thing unbecoming his Faith and Profession Paul that can yield to any thing for the honour of God and good of others yet will yield to nothing nor give place for an hou●● to them that will lay a snare for their liberty And in another case of a civil nature the same Apostle although no Souldier but of Christ Jesus stands upon his honour and the priviledge of his freedome when he is not fairly treated according to the dignity of a Roman Is it lawful to scourge a Roman such was Pauls humility as an Apostle of Jesus Christ that he can be content to receive forty stripes of his own Nation yet hath so much magnanimity that he will not yield to receive one of an Heathen where he hath a civil right to plead an exemption Such magnanimity becomes the Israel of God as was said of Gideons Brethren that each one should resemble the Children of a King If it be said that in such a case a man can do no other good then to shew his will it may be said in magnis voluisse sat est in matters of great moment it is enough if a man shews but the resolution of his mind 2. A second ingredient is Confidence or boldness not to be afraid of the danger or evil supposed though it should be death it self It seemed Joab and Abner were followed with valiant men when they can so readily lay down their lives at the command of their Captains The Righteous are bold as a Lyon saith Solomon not afraid of danger though never so great either felt or feared David will not be afraid though an Host should encamp against him Psal 27.3 Fear is an embondaging affection but the true Israel of God are called unto liberty therefore it becomes not them through the fear of death to be subject unto bondage it was a notable spirit of valour that discovered it self in that English Captain under his King in France who being sent to discover the Enemies Camp and his numbers was no whit discouraged by the great disproportion that might be observed betwixt themselves and the enemy but returned this answer That there was a very great many of them enough to kill enough to take Prisoners and enough to run away besides all which came to pass soon after according to his confident presage There hath been an extraordinary spirit of Courage that some of Gods people have been endued withal when Gods Spirit was said to come upon them as upon Sampson Judg. 14.15 when he met a Lyon and Judg. 15.14.8 when he smote the Philistines hip and thigh and David when he engaged with Goliah or Jonathan and his Armor-bearer engaging against the Philistines and undertaking a whole Garrison of them at once Thus when the Spirit of God doth in any eminent manner excite and stir up or actuate that innate valour of their minds they are and will be enabled to do great things Many a mans courage would serve him to fight very valiantly were he but assured to come off with victory or success at least without loss of life but true valour argues such a confidence of mind as enables a man to look Death in the face in cold blood as we use to say and not to be daunted with the countenance of that King of Terrour As was seen in Joab 2 Sam. 10.12 who is resolved to behave himself valiantly leaving the issue and success to God to do what should seem good in his sight Why should not every true Israelite having the same cause the same spirit of Faith the fame promises have experience of the same courage and confidence of minde in their measure 3. In the third place Patience is also requisite enabling them quietly to bear with all the evils they may meet with by reason of the diuturnity of the Act. If thou faint in the day of adversity saith Solomon Prov. 24.10 thy strength is but small It is observable that God never brought about any great matter of moment for the salvation of his people but he calld the Instruments therein to the exercise of