Selected quad for the lemma: nature_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
nature_n	civil_a	law_n	society_n	2,401	5	9.1625	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B08892	A sermon preach'd at the election of the Governour, at Boston in New-England, May 19th 1669. by John Davenport.	Davenport, John, 1597-1670.	1670 (1670)	Wing D367A; ESTC W26450	12,827	18

A SERMON Preach'd at The Election of the GOVERNOUR AT BOSTON IN New-England May 19th 1669. By JOHN DAVENPORT Printed in the Year 1670. 2 Sam. 23.3 The God of Israel said the Rock of Israel spake to me He that ruleth over men must be just ruling in the fear of God THese words may be considered two wayes 1. As holding forth a Prophecy of the Kingdom of the Messiah who is the Mediator Surety and Head of the Covenant of Grace for his People In which Covenant David comforted himself whatever decayes should befall him or his house in after-times 2. As holding forth a Rule for the choice and ordering of Rulers over men According to this consideration of the words I purpose to handle them at th s time as best suiting with the present occasion And so the words hold forth a Rule of Wisdom whereunto the Lord teacheth his People to apply their hearts in setling Civil Government according to God's Ordinance so as they may expect the presence and blessing of God through Jesus Christ with them and upon the Commonwealth I shall sum up all in one Doctrinal Conclusion which shall be this That it is the Ordinance of God in reference to Civil Government in Commonwealths that some men orderly chosen should rule over other men and in reference to the qualification of Rulers that they be just ruling in the fear of God Which is twofold 1. Concerning the thing that some men should rule over others 2. Concerning the qualification of the persons that are to rule that they be just ruling in the fear of God In this way of his Ordinance you see in my Text both these are joyned together and noted as the Ordinance of God in the Trinity of Persons God the Father said it who is called the God of Israel by vertue of his gracious Covenant with them and God the Son spake it who is stiled the Rock of Israel for that title is ascribed to Christ the Mediator and second Person For they drank of the Spiritual Rock that followed them 1 Cor. 10.4 and the Rock was Christ And they both spake it to David by the third Person the Holy Spirit who spake by David ver 2. But I shall handle them severally 1. The first that in reference to Civil Order in the Commonweal God hath ordained That some men orderly chosen should rule over other men It is not my purpose to discourse of the several Forms of Government Monarchical Aristocratical and Democratical nor to trouble you with the divers readings of the words according to the Original being content to handle them as they are translated and read in all your Bibles From whence the Doctrine is collected And the first thing to be proved is That Power of Civil Rule by men orderly chosen is Gods Ordinance For 1. It is from the Light and Law of Nature and the Law of Nature is God's Law 2. The orderly ruling of men over men in general is from God in its root though voluntary in the manner of coalescing It being supposed that men be combined in family-Family-Society it is necessary that they be joyned in a civil-Civil-Society that union being made the power of Civil-Government and of making Laws followeth naturally though the manner of union in a Political Body is voluntary That we defend our selves from violence and wrong is a consequent of pure Nature but that we do it by devolving our Power into the hands of Civil Rulers this seems to be rather positively moral than natural 3. Because this special Form of Civil Government of Commonweales by men orderly chosen the Scripture ascribes unto God and also Civil Government administred by Judges and Magistrates as Christ spake concerning Pilate Joh. 19.11 Jesus answered Thou couldst have no power at all against me except it were given thee from above and they are said to judge not for man but for the Lord 2 Chron. 19.6 hence they are called Gods Psal 82.6 7. as appointed by him according to Christ's exposition of those words Joh. 10.35 If he calleth them Gods unto whom the Word of God was given See what the Wisdom of God which is Jesus Christ saith in Prov. 8.15 16. By me Kings reign and Princes decree justice Object In 1 Pet. 2.13 14. Civil Government by Civil Rulers is called a humane Ordinance ἀνθρωπίνη 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Answ Not to shew that it is a meer humane invention and no Ordinance of God for that is contradictory to Rom. 13.1 The Powers that be are ordained of God ver 2. and he that resisteth the Ordinance of God But it is so called 1. Because men are the subject recipient of this Power So the Syriack expresseth it Leculhum benai ausho Obey all sons of men that are in Authority 2. Because the Choice hereunto is from God by men Deut. 1.13 Bring you men of Wisdom and of Understanding and known among your Tribes and I will make them Rulers over you 3. Because humane Concernments are the proper objects of it 1 Cor. 6.4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life set them up which are least esteemed in the Churches 4. Because the good of humane Societies is the end of it Therefore Durandus in his Book De Origine Juris saith well Civil Power according to God's Institution is of God and according to its acquisition and use it is of man And whereas Peter extends this subjection to two sorts of objects to the King as Supream and to other Governors as sent by him for the punishment of evil doers and for the praise of them that do well He therefore establisheth the Ruling Power over men in all sorts of Magistrates who may be said to be sent by the King either immediate as some are sent by express designation of the Person to such an office or mediately by his Royal Charter given to Corporations to choose from among themselves such as they account fit for such a trust This is our case who have by Patent from the King liberty and power to chuse a Governour and Deputy-Governour and a limitted Number of Assistants invested with Magistratical Authority over the People My Text saith He that Ruleth over men whether as Supream or Subordinate as being sent by him upon the Peoples choice must be just ruling in the fear of the Lord Therefore we must distinguish between Family-Rulers and Commonwealth-Rulers Family-Rulers viz. Husbands and Parents are the Ordinance of God without designation of the Persons thereunto by Commission from the King or Election of the People but it is not so with Rulers of the Common-wealth For the designation of these or those to be Civil Rulers leaving out others is from God by the Peoples free Choice at least by the Suffrages of the major part of them wherein the rest must acquiesce This Power of Rulers of the Common-wealth is derived from the Peoples free Choice therefore it is said in the Doctrine being orderly chosen for the