to escape it This way mean and ignoble and not at all sutable to a man of Honor. But that be may the more easily swallow all Shemaiah must act the Prophet and tel his story both in respect of the danger and means of deliverance as from the Lord. Suddain danger may gaster a man of courage and so far discompose his mind as any means of security if at hand will have easie entertainment especially if it be the relation or instruction of a Prophet Which requires the exercise of our Faith we ought to beleeve rather then Judg of what God directs us to by his Prophets So that these Impostors thought themselves sure now they had got a Prophet to act a part in the cheat Nehemiah they knew would be taken with a Prophet if there were any way in the world to seduce him From this particular one Observation Doct. Governors if Holy though wise yet are apt to be led by the Counsel of their Prophets Magistrates and Ministers Princes and Prophets have neer allyance servants together under the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ The Magistrate is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Minister of God Rom. 13.4 the other is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Ruler over us in the Lord 1 Thes 5.12 their imployment is about the same persons to suppress the evil and encourage the good Their Rule also that guides them the same Magistrates are Commanded to read and meditate on the Law of God and learn thence his fear Josh 1.8 For a man that is in honor and understandeth not is like the beast that perisheth Psal 49.20 And Ministers to instruct them to interpret and apply this Law to the Magistrate and his People upon all occasions In any great undertakings the Lord stirs up their spirits together the spirit of Zerubbabel Governor and the spirit of Joshua the High Priest Hag. 1.14 These two Olive-trees fil the same bowl Zach. 4. They are joyned together in the success of their work be it prosperous Psal 118.19 20. They bless the Lord together if otherwise they suffer together Rev. 11.4 This Contexture of interests begets such mutual dependency of each on the other that Nehemiah's Enemies venture all upon the Confidence they had this holy man even in what concerned publick safety would listen much to a Prophet Application 1. Let Magistrates from this example of Nehemiah be watchfull and circumspect in this respect and not receive all Counsels hand over head from such as give it under the Covert of this high Calling Satan himself who hath the Conduct of the Churches Enemies is in the greatest readiness thus to seduce Governors and Magistrates by closing with their Prophets and speak destructive Counsels through such Oracles The Lord purposing Ahabs Ruine In what a readiness is Sathan to pitch upon this as the surest way to effect it 1 Kings 22.21 I wil go forth and wil be a lying spirit in all his Prophets If Ahab should have been shie and not value the Counsel of one or two and therupon called a Synod as in more weighty matters Princes are wont to do Sathan had fitted him and all Ahabs advantage by his Synod would have been a greater Confidence only in the way of his own destruction for there was a lying Spirit in All his Prophets Application 2. Though it hath been thus yet a good Magistrate wil value a good Minister and take Counsel from him as an Oracle of God 1 Pet. 4. Sathan hath prevailed with the Prophets and by them with Princes to their undoing yea and without them also and against what they have Counselled Magistrates have been unrighteous Oppressors Tyrants over both Ministers people yet Magistracy is the Ordinance of God and so is the Ministry It hath bin the practice of wise holy Governors in al ages to give this respect to their faithful Ministers What intimateness was there between Moses and Aron in Communicating their Counsels and endeavors the like between Joshua and Eleazer David takes advice from his Prophet Nathan and Josiah from Huldas I say wise and holy Governors That Magistrates encourage their Prophets it is not only from their holiness but their wisdom it 's of such a great and singular advantage to the more easie governing a City or Nation the keeping up of a stirring and powerful Ministry that wisdom will direct if no higher Principle to put forth their authority this way I shal the rather add a word further for the evincing hereof because our new Modellers look upon the Ministry as needless if not hurtful in a Commonwealth That so great a multitude as in a City or Nation in so great a variety for disposition should be kept together ruled governed by one or a Jew persons This doubtless shews such powers are of God Psal 144.2 Who saith David subdueth my people under me This the Lord doth 1. By framing our Natures to society and fitting us hereunto by principles of morality And the good of dependency upon others for guidance and Conduct is taught us in our Childhood and the sense and truth of it nourished with our Mothers Milk 2. But that which strikes the main stroke and brings a People more necessarily into subjection is that which Paul mentions Rom 13.5 You must needs be subject not only for Wrath but also for Conscience in which Scripture you have the two Sinews of Government the two great Tendons by which the members of a politick body are brought to move under their head Wrath and Conscience Fear of Punishment Conscience of Duty The one from the Civil Magistrate The Dignity Splendor and Glory that is put upon him is to beget fear and dread in the hearts of his Subjects and to acknowledg him the Minister of God a Revenger to execute Wrath Rom 13.3 But to bring a people into a Consciencious subjection God makes use of another hand This Principle is to be planted and dayly watered by the Ministers of the word Jehosophat took this course to bring his people into a more kindly subjection He sent his Princes or Civil Powers and with them the Levites and Priests and they had the Book of the Law of the Lord with them and went through all the Cities of Judah and taught the people 2 Chron. 17.7 8. And this latter of the two is not only the more honorable but the more sure and Constant for though Wrath puts a must or necessity as wel as Conscience in respect to our obedience yet with this difference obedience from Conscience is willing and out of love for Conscience hath its seat above all the faculties of the Soul and brings them into obedience naturally But Wrath takes hold of the lower and more servile part of the Soul our Fear and Passion and subdues us by violence like putting a Shackle upon the Foot by which a man may guide his beastindeed but it wil be with much more strife and difficulty A Bitt in the mouth or a
A SERMON Preached to the Honorable Citizens of London September 29. 1659. being the day of the Election of their Lord Major Wherein is distinctly shewed I. The Usefulness of a powerful Ministry to the Civil Governor II. Integrity when in Conflict is most Amiable and in its highest Glory III What Virtues are desireable in a Good Magistrate By PHILIP NYE A Servant of Jesus Christ in his Gospel London Printed by Peter Cole and Edward Cole Printers and Book-sellers at the Printing-press in Cornhil neer the Royal Exchange 1661. Ireton Major A special Court holden the 25. day of October 1659 in the Afternoon IT is ordered that Mr. Nye be from this Court desired to Print his Sermon at the Election of the Lord Major of this City Sadler To the Right Honorable Sr. THOMAS ALEIN Lord Major of the City of LONDON My Lord These few pages thus presented to your hand at your Command contain the message of the great God spoken from him to this Honorable City and more especially to your Lordship being then elected the Nehemiah or Governor thereof The publishing of this Sermon though thus late yet I cannot but deem it seasonable not only for that the word of God hath a season even out of season 2 Tim. 4.2 but this being the time that you give up your trust it doth seasonably serve to provoke you as from the Lord to a serious and strict account within your self how you have discharged it In the Parable of the steward our Lord Christ calleth upon all any way intrusted to give an account of their stewardship Then when they may be no longer stewards Luke 15.2 My confidence thus far is that the substance of this Sermon is such as by comparing your own heart and waies with the contents thereof It wil prove helpful to you in the casting up your present great account of this years Government betwixt God and your own soul which is required by him of you now to be done you will here see upon what terms you took this Office of the Lord and what he instructed and directed as your Lordships duty How much you have prized the assistance of a Godly ministry in carrying on your Government this year what Eminency of sincerity hath appeared in any difficulty or Conflicts with what a publick spirit with what Wisdom Piety and Courage the Government of this City hath been carried on in your Lordships hand the time is now come and God cals upon your Conscience most seriously to consider there wil be a final and great account which you as we all must give of our several stewardships but that wil not excuse the omission of this I am bold to conclude with the Apostles words I now write the things unto you that you formerly heard And did then acknowledg 2 Cor. 1.13 And I trust you will acknowledg now at the end and to the end as he there speaks And acknowledging make that use thereof I have been now insisting on My earnest Prayer unto God is that as this Sermon was by divine appointment the Early Rain at the first Spring of your Government so that now it may obtain the Blessing of the latter Rain at the Inning of the Harvest September 1660. Your Lordships most humble Servant PHILIP NYE A SERMON Preached to the Right Honorable the Citizens of the City of London upon the twenty ninth of September 1659. being the day of the Election of their Lord Major The TEXT Nehemiah 6.11 And I said should such a man as I flee and who is there that being as I am would go into the Temple to save his Life I will not go in JErusalem that famous City had Nehemiah their chief Governor set over them by that Higher power under which for their sins they then were in bondage Artaxerxes appointed this Nehemiah to that trust and its more then probable Considering their then distracted Condition they would not have chosen so wel for themselves If your just rights should be taken out of your hands yet they wil be found in Gods hand for you who many times by a less pleasing way doth better for us then we would do for our selves Nehemiah was a person eminently qualified for a Governor I have chosen him to be the Pattern by which you may direct your choyce this day As the trust of Nehemiah was great and the people of God greatly concerned in his well or ill management of it so was his opposition The Stratagems and Devices of Tobias Sanballat with the great Wisdom and courage of Nehemiah in wrestling through and escaping them is the sum of this whol Chapter Their first assault begins with ver 1. which was subtile and importunate enough but defeated and is storied in the nine first verses yet ver 10. they are on again and with greater craft in their design but to as little purpose though the Temple was the snare and a Prophet the Driver yet all miscarries this Holy man will not go into the Temple How indefatigable are the Churches Enemies Good Nehemiah when got over one brunt He praies for strength against another ver 9. Now therfore O God strengthen my hands Such a praier at such a time a praier for strength after he had found strength and got the victory evidently implies either First That a Good man though he prevail in a conflict yet may be left under such feebleness in his mind and discouragement in his work as will need a recruit from above In our Militia if praier be neglected we shall not be able to stand two brunts together as at meals so in our Conflicts pray before and after Or Secondly If our work be great and we steady in it opposition likewise wil be great and constant against it The Enemy though every foot defeated yet wil rally again How wil Balaam go from place to place and try conclusions that he may find out a way to curse Israel Pharoah how oft disappointed in his designs upon the people of God yet in what a wretched Constancy is his resolution to mischief them first or last This must every good Soldier of Christ mind No sooner give fire and discharge but load again and stand in an expecting posture in a readiness to receive a second assault This latter tryal of Nehemiah by the return of Tobiah and Sanballat upon him in another shape and the blessed Issue of it is that part of the story only which is to be the subject of our present discourse in handling whereof two particulars are to be insisted upon 1. The snare or design it self and great artifice used in the projection of it 2. The blessed frame of heart in this prudent and holy man by which he works through it For the design An Apostat Clergy-man Nehemiah's affection to that tribe being generally known is hired by Sanballat and Tobias verse 12. To ffaine Nehemiah into an eminent suddain danger such as there is but one way in the world
just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report if there be any virtue if there be any praise think of those things These Laws have also their penalties and rewards from the multitude according as they are observed or neglected namely the general praise or reproach of men A man shal be commended according to his wisdom but he that is of a perverse heart he cares not whom or what he Crosses shal be despised Prov. 12.8 A man must be of vast merits in the eyes of all men that will be singular and of a peculiar humor and not be extreamly contemned This was the thing the enemies of Nehemiah would have put upon him to do unlike himself and otherwise then what the Law of vulgar expectation laid upon him and upon Magistrates Though there had been no dishonest thing in the sight of God his life lay on it yet if he should not have answered what the World expected they would have spoken evill and punished him with Reproaches as verse 13. which he looked upon and indeed is a matter of great Consequence to a Magistrate or person of publick imployment Paul was of his judgment and choyce in such a case and professeth it were better for him to die than that he should make his glorying void 1 Cor. 9.15 Jesus Christ himself engaged in publick service enquires how he stood in the opinion of men Math. 16.13 What do men say of me As you are called gods so mind your Glory that is know who you are and do like your selves we can mind our selves and who we are if an affront or neglect be given from want of observance from others Shall such a one as I bear it do not you know my Lord Major c Let him and all in Authority know themselves and do accordingly and they wil be acknowledged their works wil discover and praise them in the Gate Prov. 31. 3. A man of Courage and Resolution Constant and fixed in his Course there is nothing within or without shall daunt him talk to him of danger Death advise him to stoop but a little below himself and it wil be his security No saith Nehemiah a man of Courage will rather take the bullet though it take his life than make a stoop at the report to avoid it another man may do this but it becomes not a Soldier Shal such a man as I flee Shal I go into the Temple to save my life I will not go in I will not save my life upon such terms Courage is requisite to those that are publick persons in Civil as wel as in Military imployment hence they mutuate titles as Dux Eques Armiger Major c. Thus God to Joshua Josh 1.6 Be strong and of a good Courage again verse 7. ONLY be thou strong and very Couragious as if it were the All of a Ruler Shall I go into the temple I will not go in this repetition sheweth the fixedness of his resolution like that of Paul 2 Cor. 11.12 What I do I will do that I may cut of occasion from them that seek occasion c. An uneven unsteady Magistrate is the same at somtimes that an easie and weak one is at all times and the same advantages may be taken upon him if we do but put our selves to the trouble to wait our season I have said you are Gods ye shall die like men to be a god is to be above all fears all Hopes all Temptations to be immutable and not to appear so much as in the shadow of a change Ye shall die like men til Death comes you are gods there shal be no diminution of your god-head of your greatness by me if you diminish it not your selves keep up therefore a Courage answerable 4. Wisdom This is another Star in the Constellation Nehemiah by his great reach and depth of understanding was able to see through all their Colors and subtil pretentions To disappoint the devises of the Crafty Job 5.12 is mentioned as a Character of the greatest wisdom Elisha begs that the Spirit of Elias may be doubled upon him because he was to be a publickTeacher that is he must now teach himself and others so a Magistrate must seek of God a double spirit of wisdom because he is not only to govern himself but a City A Nation The least Star is sufficient to give light to it self but no less then a Sun is sufficient to inspect a world The want of wisdom in a Magistrate as it is of greatest detriment to his people so with greatest difficulty supplied Men of weak and low parts have such Jealousies of those that are more able that for the most part they carry on their Counsels rather with persons of the same proportion for wisdom with themselves 5. Holiness Nehemiah was a person that feared God of great Integrity and uprightness It may be said of him as of David Psal 78.72 He fed them according to the integrity of his heart and guided them by the skilfulness of his hand where skilfulness or wisdom and Integrity meets it 's of singular advantage in Goverment under such Governors We may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all Godliness and Honesty GODLINES wil thrive if planted in a City in a Nation though the Governors be enemies to it but this is that great and choyce blessing and Priviledg enjoyed by a people where such persons Govern we may not only be Honest but Godly and this not only in some parcels of devotion according to the mode of the times But in all Godliness these blessed Privildges enjoyed not in Corners and with difficulty and molestation hunted from place to place but all godliness with a quiet and peaceable life where such Magistrates are over us HONESTY with quiet and peace may be our portion and enjoyed if a Heathen or Infidel were our Governor But a freedom to be Godly and according to this extent with quiet to be expected only where a Nehemiah is Governor 6. Humility What a deal of this Grace lies out visible in those few words who is there that being as I am would do otherwise than I do Although his doing was so singular as you wil not find such Honor such Courage such a publick Spirit no not in one Governor of a hundred yet he assumes nothing unto himself peculiar I have done but what any man would have done There are that for doing half so much for the publick think themselves to have merited red Letters and for half so much Self denial ought to have a place in the Calendar Peter was a godly man a chief Apostle yet found in as great a distance in the frame of his spirit from this of Nehemiah's as the Compass of Grace can well permit Master saith he Math. 26.23 though all should be offended yet wil I never He conceits himself singular for Courage and Constancy and all no man shall shew himself so resolute no man shal
do as I wil do yet found even in this a very common person and inferior to his fellow Disciples Applic. 1. To you that are to choose a great trust is committed unto you the welfare of the most famous City in the world another Jerusalem a City inhabited by the people of God 1. Be not Carried on in this work by old Cus-TOMS and WONTS why should you depute in so great a work so blind a Guide yet we are brought to it in most Elections and thereby lose one of the choycest Priviledges that belong unto us as Citizens Moses chooseth Joshna who was ful of the spirit of wisdom Where are such to be found if not amongst your selves Covet the best Gifts lower then what the Apostle hath about Widows we may not go in placing this honor 1 Tim. 5.3 Honor Widows that are Widows indeed choose such as may be Magistrates indeed and not in shew only where Electors are thus Consciencious in this work the Properties though not the Person of a good Governor will be the same every year and so hereditary and for ever though your Election be yearly 2. Your Judgments rather than your Affections ought to be exercised in this work It 's God only that chooseth persons from the good pleasure of his wil and it 's peculiar to his ELECTION and so great a prerogative as some are unwilling to yeild it him But for us men we must choose ex praevisis operibus Qualities and Virtues rather than persons must be the most immediate object of our choyce It is no error in the Doctrine of this Election but much of our duty this day is expressed in it and accordingly I shal leave each mans Conscience under this the Apostles charge 1 Tim. 5.21 I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the Elect Angels that thou observe these things without preferring one before another doing nothing by partiality 3. I need not add where there is so much Civility what might be sutable if this Election were in some hands namely that though there be a Praeterition yet there must not be a Reprobation in your Election How sadly men have suffered in their names and what advantages malicious minds have taken in such competitions to sink men under Color of Comparison seeking their revenge upon the Credit and repute of whom they please is not unknown to you You may each of you that are Electors commend your man and do it to the utmost and yet according to that old and honest phrase without Comparison Lastly having elected your person there is a special Obligation laid upon you that are Electors that you submit and yeild Obedience unto the Person you have chosen for your Magistrate and it ought to be done with such freedom and affection as that you may provoke and become examples unto others in the like Obedience for he is your choice The great God and Governor of the world put not himself upon us no not upon those of whom he expects his most peculiar and affectionate submission But as he hath chosen them so he enclines their wills to choose him and this because cause choyce is the spring of all willing and free obedience And therefore Joshua having a purpose to bring his people into a more strict submission unto God puts them upon a new Election of him Chap. 24. and having brought it to pass he makes it solemn and signal by express stipulation ver 22. And Joshua said unto the people Ye are Witnesses against your selves that ye have chosen you or for your selves the Lord to serve him And they said We are witnesses Witness against your selves if now you be disobedient having chosen him for out very Election is a choosing to serve as the phrase is there a choosing to submit to obey yea and to bring others also into obedience with you Joshua undertakes not only for himself but his Houshold ver 15. to submit where he hath made choyce do you likewise in your own persons and all your relations honor and obey whom this day you shall choose and as you of the Common Counsel of this City in this choyce go before and represent others so in your submission and assistance be Examples unto others If he be not worthy whom you have chosen it wil be your unhappiness but not dispence with your duty if he be an Idol he is the workmanship of your own hands and you that have made an Idol must be contented to bow down worship it Applic. II. to you that shall this day be chosen our Governor our Nehemiah now begin to be a God the name is coming upon you meet it with a sutable frame of Heart that you may not take his name in vaine be you holy as he is holy like minded like affected love what he loves persons things and hate what he hates yea with a perfect hatred Whatsoever your hand finds out to do do it with all your might for there is no work nor device nor knowledg nor wisedom in the grave whither thou goest Eccl. 9.10 While you are gods and in place be like your selves afterwards you become men again you are as it were in the grave and then you are like other men Moses prays that he might be able to number his days and know how long he had to live that he might apply his heart to wisedom your dayes are numbered to you you know to a day the longest day you are to govern make the same use of it meditate your duty as it hath been shewed you in Nehemiah I cannot go over all the particulars but this is a principal one and to be remembred in the first place Be of a publick Spirit there is but one Lord Major for the whole City as but one Sun for the whol world you must travail a greater compasse that you may be light and comfort to both Hemispheres to the Ministers to their people to all persons in all places to rich to poor to servants and Masters to Orphans and Widowes c. If you be an Olive tree you must not say shall I leave my fatnesse or a Fig tree shall I forsake my sweetness no though you be a Vine you must leave your fruitfulness that is to bring forth to your self which if you do you will be accounted an empty Vine Consider 1. You are men men of note and eminency before this choyce It will be for your own honor and comfort how desireable is it for any of you to have the story of his life the story of his Mairolty to end like the story of Mordecai Esth 1.1 Mordecai was next to the King great amongst the Jewes those that profess godliness seeking the wealth of his people not his own profit There is also great Equity in it for therfore he receiveth perquisites that being Gods Minister he may attend continually upon this thing Rom. 13.6.2 You are Christians as such you pretend to the most publick end as your chief the glory of God now there is nothing conduceth more hereunto then this to be of a publick spirit 1 Cor. 10.31 whatsoever you do do all to the glory of God how shall we so do vers 33. even as I please all men in all things not seeking my own profit but the profit of many Paul was able to forbear the glory of Heaven that he might be serviceable here on earth Phil. 1.23 24. FINIS