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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A33227 Obedience to magistrates recommended in a discourse upon Titus 3:1 preached September the ninth, 1683 by J.C. Clapham, Jonathan. 1683 (1683) Wing C4408; ESTC R29609 14,403 39

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implies several things in it 1. An inward Reverence of Heart to them to esteem them highly because of that Authority and Honour God hath conferr'd on them as his Deputies and Vicegerents if not for their personal Worth yet for the Sovereignty God hath committed to them to give honour to whom honour is due Rom. 13. to bear an inward Reverence to them because of God's Image on them not despising or contemning them for any thing we judge amiss in them 2. Respectful Language of the Tongue toward them not speaking any reproachful Words of them tending to the prejudice of their Government but to cover their Weaknesses as Shem and Japhet did their Father's Nakedness considering what strong Temptations their high Places expose them to 3. The submitting our whole Man to the obedience of their legal Commands to serve them in Peace and War according as Duty obliges us to be ready to every good Work as the Apostle adds in the end of the Text to do all Duties the Law obliges to yea submitting our Necks to the Yoke as the Word may signifie tho it seem burdensom to us not disobeying in any lawful thing nor rising up in Rebellion against them if they should command any thing either unjust or illegal 4. And that our Estates be subject to them willingly paying Tribute and Custom according to the Laws Rom. 13.7 and as Christians paying them spiritual Tribute offering up prayers and thanksgivings to God for them 1 Tim. 2.1 Chrysostom notes this Word comprehends all Duties and Services that Subjects owe to their Rulers and Governours Thus be subject to them ready to every good work 2. The second Word the Text uses is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 obey them Criticks observe it signifies a free and voluntary Obedience to them without simulation or coaction that we perform all the Duties of Subjects in a due manner not being false to them but faithful Subjects not compelled by fear and terrour but moved out of Conscience to God's Command who hath ordained Magistracy among Men because it 's his Ordinance being subject not for wrath but for conscience sake Rom. 13.5 III. Why must Subjection and Obedience be thus yielded to Rulers and Magistrates Answ For these Reasons 1. Because Magistracy is the Ordinance of God it 's of Divine Institution This Reason the Apostle uses Rom. 13.1 Let every soul be subject to the higher Powers because there 's no Power but of God the Powers that be are ordained of God therefore we must needs be subject for conscience sake Prov. 8.15 By me Kings reign and Princes decree Justice Judges and all the Rulers of the Earth c. They are God's Deputies and Vicegerents therefore the Name of Gods is given them in Scripture I said ye are Gods but ye shall die like Men saith the Psalmist God hath delegated a part of his Power to them even in the Church which is governed by God's Word and Spirit he is pleased to set Governours 1 Cor. 12.28 therefore much more in the State where there is a greater necessity of it So that we must needs be subject to them and obey them because of God's Ordinance Not to do so is to fight against God and such as resist shall bring damnation to themselves Rom. 13.2 2. They are ordained of God for the common Good of Mankind and therefore we have greatest reason to obey them Rom. 13.4 He is the Minister of God unto thee for good speaking of the Supreme Ruler or Magistrate and bidding us to obey him on this account There is a fourfold Good that we receive by Magistracy Natural Moral Civil and Spiritual 1. Natural Good Thro' Government our very Lives are preserved in safety else homo homini lupus one Man would be a Wolf and Lion to another What Violences Murders and Bloodshed would be committed amongst Men 2. Moral Good That Vice and Wickedness hath any Restraint and Vertue and Goodness any Encouragement is from Laws and Government How vile would many Men be that fear not God if no Laws of Men restrained them When there was no King in Israel every man did what was right in his own eyes and all Wickedness abounded Rom. 13.3 the Apostle saith Rulers are a terrour to evil works In the worst Government there are some Laws to restrain it therefore it 's a great Mercy to Mankind 3. Civil Good That our Possessions and Rights are preserved we owe to Government else the stronger would prey on the weaker and every place would be full of Thieves and Robbers Propriety could not be preserved 4. Spiritual Good Religion is preserved in the World hereby and the Worship of God maintained The Magistrate is Keeper of both Tables Even by the Light of Nature Aristotle taught the first Care of Kings should be about Religion It 's their Duty to maintain the True Religion and suppress Idolatry Blasphemy and Contempt of Religion These Benefits Men reap most evidently when they have good Governours then they enjoy Peace and Prosperity and Religion is in a flourishing condition And if they have bad Governours it 's God that punishes them for their Sins and makes them Scourges to Men and they should humble themselves for their Sins and turn to God and he would send them relief However bad Government is better than none Tyranny is better than Anarchy and Confusion It 's one of the saddest Curses to have no Kings nor Governours Hos 3.4 it 's prophesied of Israel in their desolate Estate they should have neither King nor Prince nor Sacrifice c. We read in the story of the Levite's Concubine what wickedness was committed in Israel when there was no King What a Den of Wild Beasts would the World be without Government None could live in peace every one would prey upon his Neighbour Nebuchadnezzar tho a Tyrannous King is set forth in Daniel as a great Tree under whose Branches the Fowls and Beasts had shelter Saul tho a bad King clothed the Daughters of Jerusalem in Scarlet Government is as necessary to Mankind saith one as the Sun Air Bread Water c. And therefore being for Common Good be subject unto them 3. From that particular Good every one will reap by subjecting himself to Government and Evil by resisting it It is to be observed That the Fifth Commandment Honour thy Father and thy Mother c. is called by the Apostle Eph. 6. the first Commandment with promise It hath the Promise of Length of Days and Prosperity annexed to it Now it 's to be understood of Political Parents as well as Natural and it implies also a threatning of some outward Judgment to the Violators of the Command as shortning their Days they that resist them shall not be long in the Land of the of the Living It may be observed That the most that are recorded in Scripture for resisting of Government had untimely Ends as Corah and his Company Absolom Sheba Joab Shimeah Adonijah Zimri Athaliah c.