follow'd And that was the Statutes and Ordinances of the Most High Moses gives this account of himself Exod. 18.6 When the people have a matter they come unto me and I judge between one and another and I make them to know the Statutes of God and his Laws And it was Gods special command to Joshuah 1 Josh 8. The Book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth but thou shalt meditate therein day and night that thou mayest observe the Statutes of God and his Laws It is true the Judicial Law God gave the Jews in order to their Government does not now bind Christians it being appointed by him no longer to last than their State did to which those Constitutions were attemper'd but with that State their Laws were dissolv'd and as at the rending of the Veyl of the Temple their Ceremonies had a period so had their Judgments too at the destruction of their City Those Rules they generally receiv'd for determining their matters of Right and Property were meerly positive and being so could oblige only those to whom they were made whence they ceasing to be a People the Force of their Policy likewise failed nor could any Ordinance of theirs extend to the World but by another pasport of Commendation which aequity might give it Therefore Christian States have constantly assum'd the liberty of governing the Subject their own way according to the difference of persons places and times and by reason of the variety of Circumstances which attend every action have fram'd to themselves several Methods of ending their Controversies However Magistrates still ought to have Scripture for their Guide as well as the Jews had though not in such particular cases and from their example are they instructed to have recourse to the rule which is so beneficial to its followers And the advantages a Governour reaps by it are these Two 1. In that he learns thence the whole compass of his Duty 2. He is thereby prepar'd to execute it from a right Principle 1. In that he learns thence the whole compass of his Duty Mans Law is very narrow but Gods is exceeding broad for it meets with all sinful enormities Nothing there escapes that deserves punishment nor is left out that may plead a reward All kind of Sin and all kind of Vertue is there reveal'd which the Tables and Books of the old Heathens put all together do but lamely discover to us and the ground of that imperfection of theirs is plain because Reason it self was weak and dim-sighted when it dictated to them those Rules whence their Government miserably failed in those two great Hinges upon which it turn'd the Service of God and their Neighbour Should any doubt of this Truth let him survey all their Laws for Divine Worship and he will find them to be like their Idols and Sacrifices gross and impure let him examine their Civil constitutions and he will discover the poor Fetters and Chains which Justice was bound in Mercy having no Votaries though a Temple to her were Consecrated But from Gods Law a Magistrate knows all that perfectly belongs to his work how in regard of that God he is oblig'd to vindicate the Unity of his Essence by a singleness of Worship the Majesty of his Name with the Reverence of an Oath and the Holiness of his Sabbaths with a distinction of Duty in regard of Man he is bound to prop up the Authority of his Prince to suppress Lust Lying Fraud Extortion and all manner of Injustice in a People Neither is he only taught thence to root out evil from amongst Men but to be their Minister for good to put on Righteousness as a robe and Judgment as a Diadem to lead the blind and support the lame i. e. to assist Weak ones in their Just Causes that would be otherwise overborn In a word to mix Mercy with his Justice in all his management of affairs For the end of Government which this Rule leads us to is not Wrong nor Violence but Protection 2. He is thereby prepared to execute it from a right Principle The old Judges and Counsellours by consulting Gods Law had Religion instill'd into their Souls which most powerfully works where it comes Honour may enoble a Magistrates Acts and like a blazing Light give a Lustre to his Station but Religion that burns inward reforms his Will and Affections in doing them This directs him not only to the Worlds Eye but has a quickning Vertue in secret spurring him up to works of Justice and Mercy when no outward consideration can move him to them so that he is always ready in his Office which is tim'd by others to renown Those plausible seasons many make choice of for Judging their Brethren show they love not to be Magistrates but to be known whereas a Religious Superiour takes in any time for his Exercise as he does all kind of Persons for his Cognizance With him nothing is of force to divert him from nor to byass him in the Employment Every where his Government extends for that Conscience which rules in him being an Universal Principle will be sure to evidence it self in its Effects For this cause Wisdom is brought in by Salomon emphatically delivering this Truth Prov. 8.20 I lead in the way of Righteousness in the midst of the paths of Judgment which imports this that Religion and Justice are naturally united and altogether inseparable in their union none being just but out of a religious principle as none are religious but by a proof of just doings Great cause then is there for studying the Rule wherein the Truth of Religion is contain'd You see what Fruits that Study is Crown'd with and how Magistrates at first abounded in them Would you be eminent in your Places and give your Fame a wide Country to travel in Let the Vertues of Antiquity be transcribed I know the world is generally apt to cry up Antiquity but what does it there chiefly propound for its imitation except the Habits and Garbs or rather the Errours and Faults of it which is like the madness of that Pilgrim who pays his Devotion to an old Monument not for the Famous acts it represents but for the Rubbish that lies there Now those that rightly follow the Ancients do doubly honour the State they live in for they bring upon the stage their Forefathers Glory and their own I proceed now to the last head of my Discourse which is this 3. That the Natural Issue of a Government thus qualify'd is the Reputation of Uprightness and Truth in all the Members Afterwards thou shalt be call'd the City of Righteousness the Faithful City These two words Righteous and Faithful comprehend in them all the Duties of both Tables for they imply Faithfulness to God and Righteousness towards men so that when a City is Dignifi'd with them it has all the Praise that Religion may challenge In the management of this Point I shall do two things 1. Show the Vertue
Host of the Syrians was discomfited 2 Kings 7.6 So subject are men to the Impressions of a Deity that a Nation becomes terrible when once thought by that Deity to be loved In this case every Priest is reckon'd a Souldier and every Temple counted to be built a Citadel for War whence though real Aids and Strengths may be wanting yet they are abundantly supply'd by an Adversaries apprehension Even the Heathens rely'd upon this and those Cities of theirs that more peculiarly served their Gods fear'd not any Enemies would assault them because they knew the Reverence of opinion was a sufficient guard to defend How much more would a known Truth of Worship secure men from the hostility of others who being convinc'd of the sinfulness of the Act together with the Majesty of the Avenger must needs tremble at the Crime You see the Advantage of the Name in it self Consider II. How it excels all other Names by a comparison The great Renown most Cities have purchas'd in the world is either for Arts for Riches or the warlike Valour of the Inhabitants but all this is nothing answerable to that esteem gain'd by Religion I confess Arts have an Intrinsick worth but then they are not useful to another World and some here though they may improve the Understanding yet they do not perfect the Will therefore Fame mounts but little when born upon the Wings of them But as for riches they have no worth at all it is the Opinion of Men gives them their value and besides their Tyrannical nature is to vex and oppress their own Masters therefore Fame here creeps on the Ground not being able to get upward by reason of the Weight of its burden Lastly for warlike Valour It is indeed helpful to a State and conduces not only to the defence but to the enlargement of a Dominion yet withal it generally lyes in a Brutish force and is many times employ'd in that sad Work of ruining Kingdoms and planting a Wilderness in their Cities whence if the Fame of such acts flyes it leaves so bloody a track in the flight that it stains the Glory All these I have mentioned do not reach humane Excellency nor come up to that perfection we desire But Religion is useful to another World being the ready way to it by perfecting our Wills as well as enlarging our Understandings It has all worth in it that so excellent an object as God can bestow in regard of Mankind it is Beneficial a true servant to our Peace and Interest quenching all those Heats and Passions that disturb it To conclude it is every way lovely whether you regard its good here or its reward hereafter Therefore the Fame of such works is in its flight High and Cleet like that Heaven whither they tend VVhy should we not then stir up our Ambition to pursue it and leave our quest of any other renown that is so low and sinking VVill the Reputation of Arts Riches or Valour stick to us at the Day when a proof of their help is expected Behold they treacherously leave us in our needs whereas the Good Name of a Christian stands close by Us at the Hour of Death to sweeten the Pangs and remains after Death to embalm Us. I shall shut up all in one word of Application One great Business of this day and the design of this Assembly is the Election of your chief Magistrate a Work highly Useful to the Church as it is Serviceable to the State Therefore a good Choice may Consecrate the Day when a bad one Profanes it The Pattern of Government I have already propos'd the Vertue of it I have shown and what Honour attends a People thus Govern'd Upon You all these depend and in You rests the perfecting of Your City Then will Your Walls surely stand and in their full Beauty be preserved when You constantly Elect Men to defend and Christians to bless them Alas what does all the pomp of Power signify or the Stock of Your Riches without Rule Is not that River You trade by an emblem of their Vanity which flows in a full Tide when it conveys Your Wealth and ebbs again to mind You of the shortness of its stay But where Good Rulers are setled there Greatness is fix'd and Fame too with all the advantages that follow it This City I now speak to may deservedly be compar'd to the Greatest Cities in the World whether we regard the Nobleness of the Works or the Strength of the Inhabitants Men fit to buy Kingdoms nay which is greater to Conquer them Your Magistrates also have of late Years excell'd in the Order Wisdom and Loyalty of their Rule nothing remains but a continuance of that Exercise and a farther advancing of Gods Church by suppressing Vice in the Subject The buildings of Your Walls are quickly dispatch'd but here the Building must be always carry'd on nor can it ever be thought finishable while corruption prevails Oh let no tumults be heard in that work nor Innocent blood seen to make Your mortar ill-temper'd let the Voice of Peace be heard in Your Streets and of Justice in Your Assemblies let Gods Church and Truths be upheld and Debauchery kept from mocking Your Sabbaths in a word make good Your City-Arms in the strictness of a Christian Profession with Loyalty joyn'd Upon both accounts a Good Magistrate is necessary for maintaining Faith and Obedience in the multitude to which they are led not so much by standing Laws as by Life and Practice From such a one they easily learn whatever is praise-worthy and dutifully regard every Order he sets up as an Image of that Vertue He exercises but should his manners fail should he cast off Conscience and turn wicked all his Orders though never so good will like Bodies upon Gibbets be contemn'd Judge You what will follow that contempt Evils so sharp and pressing that the late Calamities if compar'd to them are but little Essayes of Judgment The Plague and Fire You have endur'd are nothing so destructive as a had Government for this is a Plague of a strange Taint that seizes the Soul and a Fire of an operation as strange where the gold only wasts and the dross encreases Oh! how would this City be lifted up did both Magistrate and People unite in the Building Can ever Your breaches be fill'd but by a leading hand or Your ruins heal'd without good Architects to cure them Still Right Honourable will this City lye desolate if Sin be not remov'd by the Authority of Examples By them must Your Greatness be confirm'd who can add to your Glory what will defend Your Glory The title of a Righteous and Faithful City Now to God the Father to God the Son and to God the Holy-Ghost be ascrib'd c. FINIS
Principles implanted in him for establishing his Peace But by the benefit of Dominion which redounds to us all we trace the goodness of the Most High In that Copy we see lively representations of Himself and express characters of his Mercy Do we not all allow it to be his Work when we see contrary Principles unite and harmoniously agree to the Production of things In the same manner ought we to acknowledge his Hand when we consider how the contentious natures of men are so far reconcil'd as to beget Order in the World Behold here the glorious Marks of a Benefactor who seems to create us anew by conforming us to rule and gives to each all the goods of Mankind by setling a mutual enjoyment What can more express him in his Power and that Power mercifully exercis'd then humane Government For by this the state of things is repair'd and the very spirits of men at once aw'd and better'd which are the Proper effects of Divinity It is a true Title given to Magistrates in the Psalmist Psal 8â—â— 6. where God is introduc'd speaking to them after the delivery of their Commission I have said ye are Gods for while they are in that station they cease to be common Men and share in the Authority of their Soveraign whereby both they are taught to act like Gods and Subjects to revere them Should Magistrates omit Works of Justice and Mercy which justify that high name they are no more Gods but Idols nay the worst sort of Idols that being made to represent do yet foully reproach Divine Power On the other side should People resist libel or abuse them and so strive to deface the marks of their Greatness they strike at the Majesty of the Supreme We may all learn Duty from considering that God is the Founder of humane Government and therefore the ends of that Foundation ought to be answer'd by a right Influence of the Head and a due obedience in the parts govern'd Thus much for the First Observable II. That a People is highly bless'd with that Gift when Magistrates are restor'd by him according to a Primitive Pattern Judges as at the first and Counsellours as at the beginning As the Truth of Religion is to be found out by examining what was delivered at the beginning so is the Excellency of Government by the same method to be shown Errours in Faith and defects in Politiques may be both charged with Novelty for though they may bear a long Date in the World yet there is a degenerating in both from first Principles Such is the corruption of Mans Nature that by degrees it spoils his private belief and his publick practise There is now adays another Spirit in the World than what our Forefathers were guided by all our Models are corrupt because our ends are so whereas the purity of Government was at first retain'd There the Spring ran clear and had a wholesomness in its current which was afterwards lost by being convey'd in a foul channel Therefore we ought to ask after the old paths and inquire for the ancient ways to walk in that so the blessing of Magistracy may the more appear And this will be clear'd by considering 1. The Persons that of old did govern 2. The Rule they follow'd 1 The Persons that of old did govern When God form'd a Republick amongst the Jews where he himself did immediately rule a Moses a Joshuah were his Substitutes and a Sanhedrim of Elders with like gifts to assist them The Spirit wherewith they were fill'd was a Spirit of Wisdom to direct and of Courage to execute the Fire that inflam'd them was a Zeal for Justice and the Principle of their acting a Religious Fear These were the Graces they then excell'd in God taking special care that a Frame of his own erecting should have sutable Ministers to keep it Compare Jethro's counsel to Moses Ex. 18. with that choice of persons God afterwards approv'd and you will find a right speculation surely ratified by Examples That vile separation which Politicians have made betwixt Profit and Honesty was not then known nor a publick Spirit counted a Paradox With them Duty and Interest were the same Truth set up there for Art of Governing and Conscience for the Counsellour Whatever actions they entred upon as they were duly weigh'd so they were vertuously pursued so that the Government of the Subject in their Days seem'd to be like that of the Creatures in Paradise where He that was vested in the Dominion manifested the highest and most difficult kind of Innocence namely Integrity of Power If we consult the ancient Histories of the Heathens concerning the rise of their famous Cities such were Sparta Athens and Rome we may perhaps find an appearance of some gifts in the first Rulers of them viz. a show of Wisdom and Courage in their proceedings though if we narrowly sift the nature of those Qualities they really miss'd of them all their wisdom being lodged in the Head of a Serpent that deceives and their courage in the Heart of a Lion that devours But as for a Religious Fear this was utterly banished from their minds whence a Conscience of Duty being laid aside a Zeal too for Justice was extinguished Therefore they are upon no account a pattern to a Christian State since whatever seem'd glorious in their acts it was but a faint resemblance of good a colour to disguise a rotten foundation But from the Jewish Model we may collect all that is fit for us to imitate wherein those Vertues met that might either adorn or support the Fabrick I have hinted here but Four they were endued with to which all other governing Qualities may be reduced and without which it is impossible to make a perfect Guide Let a Magistrate lack Wisdom in his Rule and he looks contemptibly as Sampson did to the Philistims when he laid hold upon the Pillars without Eyes let him want Courage and he looks weakly as Government does in Picture where the Sword is born in vain but take once from him the two latter a Godly Fear and a Zeal for Justice then the very Life of his Work and the Soul of his Office is gone Now to reckon up the Follies that abound amongst Men by reason of the Folly Cowardise Irreligion and Injustice of Superiours is but to repeat old Remarques sadly confirm'd to us by the falls and ruins of many Cities And the wonder at this is easily remov'd for where evil accidents are not foreseen nor for want of Spirit prevented where Conscience does not bind nor distributive Justice prevail there all the Seeds of Weakness are sown which naturally tends to dissolution God who knew well the faults of such a Ministery cull'd and pick'd out at the first right Judges in the State that so the Settlement of his People might be secur'd which is a Lesson to other States when allow'd by their Prince the choice of their Magistrate to do likewise 2. The Rule they