to any Man but Love for they that love one another have fulfilled the Law More particularly the several Duties of all Relations are Christianly and Conscionably to be performed And that this small piece may be of the more universal usefulness to all of all sorts into whose Hands it shall come I will endeavour by the Divine Assistance to make it a clear Prospective or Looking-glass wherein every one may see the Duties of their Respective Relations Are you Magistrates 1. Be truly thankful to God for advancing you above your Brethren not having an over-weening conceit of your selves because of your Exaltation so God did require of him that was to be over his own People Deut. 17.20 That his Heart should not be lifted up above his Brethren 2. Acquaint your selves both with the Law of God that you may know what is Just and Honest and also with the Laws of that Kingdom Common-wealth Country or Corporation where you exercise your Office Deut. 17.18 19. When he sitteth upon the Throne he shall write him a Copy of this Law and it shall be with him and he shall read them all the days of his Life 3. Hate Sin and Vice in your selves ruling in the fear of God 2 Sam. 23.3 that so you may the better punish Vice in others 4. As in the Administration of Justice you represent God's Person on Earth so in all your judicial Proceedings do nothing but as if God were the Actor thereof himself he is no respecter of Persons no more must you he cannot be bribed with Gifts to pervert Justice no more must you 2 Chron. 19.6 7. 5. As you are to take severe Notice and inspection of the wicked Works of profligat Persons punishing them according to their Demerits so where you observe such as are Ingenious Industrious Vertuous and Peaceable Countenance Encourage and reward them Rom. 13.3 4. Rulers ought not to be a terror to good Works but to Evil he that bears the Sword is to be an Avenger to execute Wrath upon him that doth Evil but a Minister of God for good to them that do Well 6. Let Justice be mixed with Mercy not executing the rigor of the Law unless in Cases highly Criminal and unless an unevitable Necessity urges to it Summum jus summa injuria And do not so shew Mercy to incorrigible Offenders as by remissness in Justice to encourage others to the like Offences shew Mercy especially to the Poor the Oppressed Fatherless and Widows 7. Preserve Propriety Peace and Safety promoting Piety and the Means thereof Reformation and Righteousness that your Government may have an influential Operation upon the Godliness and Honesty of all in their Lives and Conversations 1 Tim. 2.2 And that in you that prophesie of Isa 49.23 may have its Accomplishment being to the Church and People of God what a Father and Mother a nursing Father and nursing Mother is to a poor young Suckling 8. Prefer the Peoples Good to your own private and personal Interest being as little chargeable as it is possible Nehem. 5.15 The former Governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the People and had taken of them Bread and Wine beside 40 Sheckels of Silver yea even the Servants bare rule over the People but so did not I because of the fear of God Duties of Subjects 1. Bless God for hedging you about with such a Fence of Magistracy as an Ordinance whereby you are secured against all Injuries and Violence which you are lyable unto from Adam's apostate Posterity Men turned into Monsters The Consideration of the desperate Wickedness that now lodges in the Hearts of the Sons of Men has often made me put a high Estimate upon this Mercy of Magistracy for if it were not for it the whole World would be quickly fill'd with horrid Robberies Adulteries and Murthers sheathing our Swords into one anothers Bowels As God's Glory and his People's Good have been the two great ends which he has proposed to himself in all his Transactions so in this Rom. 13.4 He is the Minister of God to thee for Good therefore be thankful 2. Seeing God has so well provided for you you are to suffer any injury rather than be your own Avengers Matth. 5.39 40 41. Whosoever shall smite thee on the Right Cheek turn to him the other also and whosoever will sue thee at the Law and take away thy Coat let him have thy Cloak also i. e. rather than fall a quarrelling and fighting with him that thus misuses thee If thou art injured thou hast God's Deputy to go unto but a private Person and a Christian must never be his own Avenger nor retaliate injuries for injuries Rom. 12.17 18. If it be possible as much as in you lyeth live Peaceably with all Men Dearly beloved avenge not your selves but rather give place unto Wrath for it is written Vengeance is mine I will repay saith the Lord Deut. 32.35 3. Honour the Persons of Magistrates whether Wicked or Godly for their Office sake as being Gods upon Earth 1 Pet. 2.17 Fear God Honour the King Exod. 22.28 Thou shalt not revile the Gods nor curse the Ruler of thy People no not in thy Thought or Bed-Chamber for a Bird of the Air shall carry the Voice and that which hath Wings shall tell the Matter Eccles 10.20 4. Seeing your peaceable possession of Temporals is from them as an Ordinance of God you are to contribute to their maintenance according to your Ability and their publick Necessities Rom. 13.6 7. For this cause pay you Tribute also for they are God's Ministers attending continually upon this very thing render therefore to all their Due Tribute to whom Tribute Custom to whom Custom 5. Obey them in all their lawful Commands and in Case they command any thing contrary to God's Word submit to their Authority and the Penalties inflicted by them without making resistance Rom. 13.1 2. Let every Soul be subject to the Higher Powers for there is no Power but of God whosoever therefore resisteth the Power resisteth the Ordinance of God 6. Pray for them 1 Tim. 2.1 2. I exhort that first of all Supplications Prayers Intercessions and giving of Thanks be made for all Men for Kings and all that are in Authority for this is good and acceptable in the fight of God our Saviour 7. As thou art a Subject and so one that in conjunction with others constitute'â— a Body Politick study to promote the Publick good according to thy Power and the station in which Providence hath placed thee Pray for mercies to the Nation Country City and Town where thou livest as well as for mercies to thy self and Family Jer. 2.9 7. Bless God for Publick as well as Personal mercies mourn for national Sins and Calamities Whatever thy Talent is Publick or Private I mean for a more Publick or Private use wrap it not up in a Napkin if it be for Preaching Phisick Teaching School or for advancing Trade and Manufactures make improvement
for it is a good thing that the Heart be established with Grace not with Merits which have not profited them that have been occupied therein 2 Cor. 2.11 2 3 4. I am zealous over you with a Godly jealousie for I have espoused you to one Husband that I may present you as a chast Virgin to Christ but I fear lest by any means as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his Subtilty so your Minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ For if he that cometh perceiveth another Jesus whom we have not prepared or if ye receive another Spirit which ye have not received or another Gospel which ye have not accepted ye might well bear with him Gal. 1.8 Though we or an Angel from Heaven Preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have Preached unto you let him be accursed Contend for the truth against all that shall corrupt or oppose it Jude 1. Let no Ordinance be lost or adulterated with your good will restore all to their primitive purity and keep them in it Let the word of the Lord also go forth from you unto others that you being the Lord 's Holy Mountain may be a rich Blessing to all places round about Ezek. 34.26 Psal 110.2 Think your selves of some expedient how to propagate the Gospel according to your capacities abilities and as present Providences will permit after the pattern of the Church of Thessalonica 1 Ep. 1 Chap. v. 6 7 8. Yea become followers of us and of the Lord having received the Word in much affliction with joy of the Holy Ghost so that ye were examples to all that were at Macedonia and Achaia for from you sounded out the word of the Lord. 6. God has fenced you with many Hedges and strong Fortifications to wit with his own Power Providence Spirit Word Angels and other Creatures insomuch that the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against you Let therefore Mount Zion be glad and the Daughters of Judah be glad walk about Zion go round about her tell the Towers thereof mark well her Bulwarks consider her Palaces that ye may tell it to the Generations following for this God is our God for ever and ever he will be our guide unto Death Ps. 48. to the end Isa 4.5 6. The Lord will create upon every dwelling place of Mount Zion and upon the Assemblies a Cloud and Smoke by Day and shining of a Flaming Fire by Night for upon all the Glory shall be a defence and there shall be a Tabernacle for a Shadow in the Day-time from the Heat and for a place of Refuge and for a covert from the Storm and Rain And 41.10 11 12. Fear not for I am with thee be not dismayed for I am thy God I will strengthen thee yea I will help thee yea I will uphold thee with the Right Hand of my Righteousness behold all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded They shall be as nothing and they that strive with thee shall perish Thou shalt seek them and shalt not find them even them that contended with thee they that were against thee shall be as nothing and as a thing of nought 7. As God has made many Promises to you my indeed all Promises are Yea and Amen to you that believe 2 Cor. 1.20 So suck the Breasts of these Consolations and let the Word of Christ dwell Richly in you in all Wisdom Col. 3.16 Chuse Promises as a part of your Portion Psal 119.111 Acting Faith and Patience for the accomplishment thereof and comforting your selves therewith in all your Affictions Distresses and Tribulations Get some compendious Catalogue not only in your Heads but also in your Hearts of such promises especially which may afford you some comfortable relief against the temptations and troubles that do ordinarly attend a Church-state â—â—le instance in a few to shew you how to make improvement of the rest 1. Are you at any time under perturbation of Mind fearing the Rage and Rejection of the Men of the World for your separation not walking with them in the same way of visible Worship Let that of 2 Cor. 6.17 18. be ready at hand as a present remedy Come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you and will be a Father to you and ye shall be my Sons and Daughters saith the Lord God Almighty It s true this Scripture is principally understood of separation from Idolatry and Idolaters but not exclusive of other separations where there is visible Righteousness and Unrighteousness Light and Darkness Christ and Belial Piety and Tolerated Profaness As you may see v. 14.15 2. Is the want of able Officers or being de prived of such as ye had your grief Make use of Ezek. 34.15 16. I will feed them in a good Pasture and upon the high Mountains of Israel shall the Fold be I will seek that which was lost and bring again that which was driven away and will bind up that which was broken and strengthen that which was sick Jer. 3.14 15. I will take you one of a City and two of a Family and I will bring you to Zion and I will give you Pastores according to mine Heart which shall feed you with Knowledge and Understanding If it be for God's Glory and your good you may believe that some time or other that of Isa 30.20 21. shall be fulfilled I limit not the Holy One to Days Weeks Months or Years Though the Lord give you the Bread of Adversity and the Water of Affliction yet shall not thy Teachers be removed into a Corner any more but thine Eyes shall see thy Teachers and thine Ears shall hear a Word behind thee saying this is the way walk ye in it when ye turn to the Right Hand and to the Left 3. Are you a reproach to Neighbours vile and contemptible in the Eyes of all that are round about See Isa 28.5 The Lord of Hosts shall be for a Crown of Glory and for a Diadem of Beauty to the residue of his People And 62.3 Thou shalt also be for a Crown of Glory in the Hand of the Lord and a Royal Diadem in the Hand of thy God 〈◊〉 Thou shalt no more be termed forsaken neither shall thy Land any more be termed desolate but thou shalt be called Hephzibah and thy Land Beulah for the Lord delighteth in thee and thy Land shall be Married Isa 51.7 Hearken un to me ye that know Righteousness the Peoplâ— in whose Heart is my Law Fear ye not the reproach of Men neither be afraid of their Revilings for the Moth shall eat them up as a Garment and the Worm shall eat them as Wooll but my Righteousness shall be for ever and my Salvation from Generation to Generation Isa 54.4 5. Ezek. 36.15 â— 4. Is it so that Ordinances do you but little good your Souls are still Barren and Unfruitful
for his Glory and Honour tempering your Zeal still with Knowledge anda Holy descretion Eighthly Let your hopes for Heaven be well bottomed not the Hypocrites hope and persist in a patient waiting to the end for what is wrapt up in the promise and for what Faith has believed so as never to be swallowed up in a distrustful despair Pet. 1.13 8. Be frequent in self-examination try the truth of your Graces by the Touch-stone of the Word 2 Cor. 13.15 Lament 3.40 Ps 119.59 Ps 4.4 Interrogate your selves sometimes whether yet there be an effectual change wrought upon your Hearts whether at this instant God is present with or absent from you whether you are Dead and Lumpish or Lively and Active in the present temper of your Spirits whether you are going backward or forward there will be no time lost in communing with your selves about Soul-concerns for if upon search you discover an advance and growth in Grace it will occasion praises and thanksgivings if otherwise humiliation and reformation 9. In every Ordinance of Worship mind the sanctifying of God's Name the furthering your Souls communion with God and the increase of Grace in you 1. Peruse the Scriptures as a Love-Letter sent from Heaven wherein you may Read as in Letters of Gold engraven with the point of Diamond the eternal purpose and counsel of God concerning your Salvation Be of David's mind Ps 19.10 The Judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether more to be desired than Gold yea than much sine Gold Sweeter also than Honey and the Honey Comb. Always with Reading joyn Prayer and Meditation Observe some order and method Be constant in it using it as your Souls daily Food 1 Pet. 2.2 Let them that are able and can spare time Read the Bible with some helps for better understanding the literal sense thereof I humbly commend Jackson's Annot from Genes to Isa and the Dutch Annot. from Isa to the end To them that would Read Practical Observations Piscator and the Scotish Divines so far as they have gone in commenting thus on the Scriptures 2. Where the Word is Preached in the Name of Christ as an Ordinance of God by such as are Authorized from Heaven make conscience of hearing it not as it is the Word of Man but as it is the Word of God which effectually worketh in them that believe 1 Thes 2.13 3. When you have occasion to sit down at the Lord's Table as a fellow-communicant with the invited guests of the King of Glory Come First self-examination being previous according to the command of Christ 1 Cor. 11.28 Secondly With a more than ordinary edge upon your Appetite 3ly With Knowledge and Faith to discern the Lord's Body 4ly With such a penitential frame of Heart that you cannot tell how to look upon him whom you have pierced with dry Eyes 5ly Let Sacrament seasons be solemn renuals of your Covenant with God coming under a sacred Oath that you will with full purpose of Heart cleave unto him and his ways all your Days 6ly Study to answer the ends of Christ in this institution in experiencing it to be a Soul-sanctifying Love-feast in respect of the sweet communion you have with himself therein and with those that are visible Members of his Body mystical 7ly What Kisses of Christ's Mouth and Embraces of Bosom-Love are there communicated be chary of them walk worthy of the Lord unto all well-pleasing not turning Grace into wantonness 4. Let the Lord's Day be your delight First Set it apart wholly for the service of God in works of Piety and Charity Isa 58.13 14. Let it be a Holy Day indeed to you on which you are not to think your own thoughts speak your own words nor do your own works or use recreations at other times Lawful Secondly Observe it as a time of Triumphant Joy and Thankfulness for the Glorious work of our Redemption by Christ Thirdly As a significative memorial of your celebrating an eternal sabbatism in the Heavens 10. Learn contentation with every condition studying the duties that are proper both for a prosperous and an afflicted state so as to be found in the practice thereof Duties of a prosperous State 1. When you are high in Estate be humble in Mind having low thoughts of your selves as being less than the lest of all God ' s mercies Gen. 32.10 Secondly In fulness deny not God saying Who is the Lord Prov. 30.9 Thirdly Acknowledge him with Thankfulness as the Author of all your Enjoyments 4ly Testifie your Thankfulness in Honouring him with your substance and with the first fruits of your increase Prov. 3.9 Fifthly Despise not the poor neither shut your Bowels against them Sixthly Take not encouragement to sin the more against God because his Grace abounds towards you but fear him because of his goodness Hos 3.5 Seventhly Read Pray Hear Meditate watch over your Hearts maintain a constant communion with God in Holy walkings and perform all Holy duties as much then as ever Eighthly When you are at the highth and top of prosperity expect and prepare for a change every Day that it may never surprize you unawares but that with Job you may say there 's no evil come upon me but what I feared 9ly Be so far from Glutting and Surfeiting your selves with Creature comforts and Enjoyments terminating your satisfaction and content wholly therein that you shall rather thereby be made to long for Heavens Glory the more saying often thus within your selves If a little Water that comes from the Cistern now be so sweet and refreshing O what will a full draught of the Water of Life Drunk at the Fountain and Well-Head be to all eternity If there be so much comfort in Creatures O what is in the Creator himself when he shall be all in all to us and in Christ when we shall see him and be as he is Come Lord Jesus even so come quickly Duties of an afflicted State 1. Eye the Hand of God in all cross ocurrences as considering there 's no evil in the City but what is of him Amos 3.6 Secondly Consider what in your selves may be the cause of the crosses search till you find out the plague of your own Hearts Thirdly Be humbled for whatever has provoked the Lord to deal thus by you and turn unto him that smites you with a hearty and thorough Reformation 4ly Is any Man afflicted let him pray Jam. 5.13 If ever there was a time for you to pour out your Souls into the Bosom of God It s when his chastening Hand is upon you Isa 26.16 Hos 5.15 Fifthly Harbour not any thoughts of repining at God's good pleasure but bear his indignation patiently 6ly Be Thankful not only for former mercies but also for the present temperature and mixture of mercy with justice Lam. 3.22 Say with Job the Lord gives the Lord takes Blessed be the Name of the Lord for ever Job 1.21 Seventhly Act Faith upon particular promises made