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A55086 Saint Pauls politiques, or, A sermon against neutrality preached at Margarets Westminster on the Lords-Day Decemb. 13, 1644, divers of the Honourable House of Commons being present / by Lawrence Palmer ... Palmer, Laurence. 1644 (1644) Wing P250; ESTC R3579 12,118 24

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others would read his story and follow his example Neh. 5. from the 14. ver to the end of the Chapter One instance more which may seeme to suit with the conditions of the greatest Ladyes or other women here present and it is of Heroicke Queen Hester Shee might have been quiet and contented with the Kings favour being assured that Hamans bloody policy against the Jewes could not have pluckt her from the Kings bosome seeing she was such a one as the King delighted in But alas her people the people of God were in great distresse and perplexity which makes her she cannot be quiet and thereupon puts forth her self to do service for the publique Hest 4.15 16. Reasons The first reason or ground of this Doctrine may be taken from common nature or naturall relation we stand in for even nature it self hath indebted every man to his Nieghbour one to another Non nobis solum nati sumus c. The second reason taken from our spirituall relation in which we all stand bound And here the rule is that spirituall relations tye men more close one to another then naturall relations do or can This speciall relation stands in a fourefold respect 1. Of God the Common father of us all 2. Of Christ our head and elder brother 3. Of the Church the Common Mother to us all 4. One of another as partaking all of the same common spirituall Ordinances c And therefore reason why not any of us should chiefly seek his own but very man also the things of others 3. The third reason drawn from the end of our redemption That grace of God that bringeth salvation will teach us to deny ungodlinesse and worldly lusts and to live soberly righteously and godly in the present evil world Tit. 2.11 12. As we must live soberly in respect of our selves godly in respect of God so we must live righteouslytowards others profitably in respect of the publique every noble spirit labouring to preserve maintain bring honour to his own family The 4. Reason drawn from that private interest every man hath in the publique It was so to the Jewes when they were in Babylon Ierem. 29.7 they were to pray for the peace of the City whither they were carryed captive because in the peace thereof they should have peace Vses The uses of the point shall be first for information 2. For Reprehension 3. Exhortation 4. For Consolation If this be a truth that it is a duty that lyes upon all Christians to have respect unto and carefully to work after the good of the publique aswell yea rather then their own private and particular Then 1. It may serve to let us see that the actions of many men who neglecting their own things and wholy look after the things of others are warrantable And that such men as ayme more at the publique then their own private are not to be condemned I remember what Vriah said to David 2 Sam. 11.11 The Arke and Israel and Iudah are in tents and my Lord Ioab and the servants of my Lord are in the field and shal I then go into my house to eate and to drink and to lye with my wife As thou livest and as thy soul liveth I will not do this thing I cannot find Vriah any where condemned for this his resolution Nay the spirit of God doth give a very large encomium of such a publique spirit as you may see Iudg. 5.9 It is the speech of Deborah concerning the voluntiers in the service of the Church and State My heart is towords the Governours of Israel that offered themselves willingly Blesse ye the Lord. And Saint Paul in this Chapter ver 29 30. speaking of Epaphroditus a faithfull Minister commands the Philippians to recieve such in the Lord and to hold such in reputation Because for the work of Christ he was nigh to death not regarding his life to supply your lack of service And therefore surely men of such publique spirits should not be disheartned with any tediousnesse or burthensomnesse in the work nor discontented by such as have imployed and called them forth for the service It is an imployment very warrantable and agreeable to Christianity Vse 2 And therefore Secondly it may serve as a use of just reprofe and terrour unto all those that sing this song Vnusquisque sibi Every man for himself and God for us all No my Brethren I beseech you know that where every man is for himself the Devil will be for all for consider you sin 1. Against the Law of Nature 2. Against spirituall relations 3. Against the end of our Redemption 4. Against the publike And yet alas how many be there that let a Kingdom sink or swim so they may be in peace at home they matter not Such as daily send out Scours and lie Perdue to discover which is the stronger side and then they will shew themselves just like Isachar Gen. 49.14 15. They are strong Asses couching down between two burdens seeing rest to be good and the land pleasant they are contented to bow their shoulders to bear and so become servants unto tribute Or else Secondly they are like the men of Laish Iudges 18.7 Carelesse quiet and secure they sit it may be under their own Vine c. Or Thirdly that which is worse they jeer and scoffe at such as have spent themselves and estates to maintain the publike and it may be to preserve their private and particular estates just as the men of Succoth and Penuel dealt with Gideon Judg. 8.5 6. And Fourthly that which is yet more intolerable basenesse in the spirits of some who having chosen men of parts and abilities for the publike service And having sent them from their Countries their wives and children and estates deare to them who have been imployed and faithfully discharged the greatest places for the Towns or Counties where they lived shall be not only shamefully deserted but likewise maligned scoffed at hated and opposed by scornfull men who bring the City into a snare Prov. 29.8 and these not our professed enemies but such as pretend themselves to be for the same Cause But I wish sad experience had not taught me at this time to speak so much To these if any here present I shall humbly desire to commend these few considerations 1. Let them consider that they lie under a most heavy curse Iudges 5.23 Curse ye Meroz said the Angel of the Lord Curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof Why Alas what hath Me●oz done She came not to the help of the Lord to the help of the Lord against the mighty Meroz is not in Armes against the Lord yet curse ye Meroz These Citizens of Meroz delighted more in the bleating of sheep in the lowing of their oxen to enjoy their own at home then to engage themselves or their estates for the publike They would willingly sleep in a whole skin therefore Curse ye Meroz I beseech you take notice of the wretched state
woman shall adventure in the publike Cause we do thereby secure and improve not only that part of our estates but also in all probability all the rest of our private interests Me thinks if I were to reason the case with some men of private spirits My question should be what interest can any man have or promise himself in his private or particular when the publique is lost Every mans Cabine in the ship consisting in the safety of the ship If the ship sinck what is become of any mans particular cabine I remember what Ieremy said to Baruch Jere. 45.4 5. The Lord faith thus Behold that which I have built I will breake down and that which I have planted I will pluck up even this whole land And seekest thou great things for thy self seek them not And I wish it may be spoken to all the nation God is breaking down God is plucking up I intreate you then let none of us be seeking great things for our selves Consider that as this is very honourable in a mans life as who can remember Abraham Moses and Nehemiah and Hester But he hath precious thoughts of them so it cannot but afford a man much comfort when he shall come to dye and all other Comforts in respect of wordly things fayle him and forsake him See this in Hezekiah a great Statesman Isay 38. Remember now O Lord I beseech thee how I have walked c. And in Nehemiah a great Governour in the forequoted Neh. 5. where after he had remembred what great care he had of the publique and how he had spent his strength and estate in the service thereof he concludes with this Thinke upon me my God for good according to all that I have done for this people And in this sence I suppose Saint Paul may be understood 2 Corin. 1.12 For our rejoycing is this the testimony of our Conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity not in fleshly wisdome but by the grace of God we have had our conversation in the world but more abundantly to you-wards Where amongst other Characters of a conversation that can afford comfort and rejoycing to a mans conscience this is one that he hath been beneficiall to others So that all these considerations laid together I hope there are many will be parswaded to labour for more publique spirits for the cause of God then hitherto they have had Quest But how shall a man get this publique spiritednesse which is a duty so necessary Answ If we will be so indeed take these four directions Direct 1 We must needs become good men before ever we can be truly publique spirited men Naturally a man is his own Alpha and Omega Nemo sapit qui sibi non sapit is a proverb in nature It is nothing but grace in the soul that doth enlarge both the heart and hand to seek or do good to others it were easy to prove it both by the examples of all those good Statesmen formerly mentioned Abraham Moses Nehemiah Hezekiah c. and shew what good men they were and also by the examples of all those Kings and Councellours that have brought ruine on their States and Kingdomes Jeroboam Manasses c. and shew what wicked men they were the Apostle Paul doth hint such a thing to us 1 Thessalonians 2.8 and Act. 4.34 35. Well then so long as we or any other imployed for the publique continue Drunkards Swearers Adulterers Hypocrites It is impossible we can be truly publique spirited We must study the Art of self denyall if ever we meane to be men of publique spirits self-love will never carry any man beyond himself If any man will come after me saith Christ let him deny himself c. No coming after Christ no serving of the publique but by self-denyall hence the Apostle 2 Tim. 3.2 3. joynes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 self-lovers and men without naturall affections together Let us seriously lay our hands on our hearts and see what selfishnesse there is in any our actions If we would truly seek the good of others we must walke regularly not according to our own sence and opinion In a storme when the ship is like to be cast away every passenger must not turne Pilot. In a disease of the body if we regard our own health we will not willingly commit our selves to every unskilfull and illiterate Mountebanke Iudicium regni est certa vivendi regula The Paliament is the rule of right reason to a nation Let every man be a Reformer but let it be of himself not of those that are set in place and power to reforme things that are amisse both in Church and State Let us follow not go before the authority set over us In this we must do things with all our might Eccles 9.10 Whatsoever thou findest to do do it with all thy might Hoc age make the publique thy businesse Many both in Church and Common wealth will be found to do much mischiefe by doing little good by keeping men more active then themselves out of their places I suppose it to be true in some Ministers in some Magistrats in many Parliament men and in some Commanders If therefore we will be men of publique spirits indeed let us in managing of the publique act ad ultimum vicium to our utmost power and abilities Let not any of us be as so many Cyphers that serve for nothing else but to fill upon the roome and to make up the number If these things were rightly practised there would not be so many that would seeke their own things and not the things of others But now least any man should be disheartned I shall conclude all with a word of comfort and encouragement to all those that are publique spirited men indeed Vse 4 To all those that have neglected their own particulars in reference to the publique I shall desire to speak thus much It may be the Church or State may miscarry in these sad calamities comfort your selves it shall not be laid to your charge you may read Ezech. 9.4 That those who did mourne for the abominations that were committed in the land had a marke set upon their foreheads to the end that when the destroyer did passe through the land they might be spared There be two things in a common calamity there is a common destruction and a common distraction or as it is Deut. 32.25 there is the sword without and the terrour within I cannot promise any the best man in the world freedom from the common destruction or the sword without But this I dare promise you because God hath promised it Isa 43.2 3. that you shall be freed from the common distraction from feare within Besides this argues truth of Christianity when we seek not every one his own things but every one also the things of others FINIS