recite them they are so generally known Let me onely add That the Almighty can at pleasure make the very Eater to afford Meat and the Destroyers themselves to become Saviors He that promised his people that their Exactors should be righteousness hath often saved them by those very Hands that should have slain them Nothing is too hard for God and all salvation belongs to him We need not go from home to seek Examples for the proof of this Our late Domestick and most Devilish Plots give ample Testimony hereunto wherein the very Agents in the management of them and that should have been so in the Execution also do by the wonderful hand of God prove Instruments in the revealing and disappointing of them Which as it beareth further witness to the Truth of Scriptures That safety is of the Lord Prov. 21.31 So it engageth us to joyn this day with the Church in the words of my Text The King shall joy in thy strength O Lord and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoyce The rather to For The Second Proposition 2. Propos which is God's salvation useth to be exercised in an especial manner towards Kings Or in other words Divine Providence taketh peculiar care of Princes Which seemeth also to be intimated in my Text in that 't is there so Emphatically said The King shall joy in the strength of God and He shall greatly rejoyce in God's Salvation without the Express mention of his Subjects doing so though they be tenderly concern'd therein as before was hinted and hereafter will be fully proved And certainly if the Fowles of the Air and the very Flowers of the Field are not shut out from the care of God If the little Sparrows as our Saviour doth assure us Matth. 10. are interessed in his Providence Humane Affairs must claim undoubtedly a greater share therein and more tender respect from thence And therefore Government of States and Kingdoms without which nothing but Confusions and Desolations would be Mankind's dismal Portion cannot but be admitted to have the highest interest in the same And so at last Princes and Chief Governors upon whose Fates that is the Good or Ill befalling them the Publick and General Weal or Woe dependeth must be allowed to be the Peculiar concern of him that Governeth all Things with Infinite Wisdom and Goodness But to put this past all doubt there are Three Considerations that do offer their effectual service 1. Consiâ—…nations The Station God setteth them in 2. The Charge he lays on People concerning them 3. His own very marvellous Actings for them 1. Consid The station God sets them in Kings are by him Ordain'd not onely Superior unto others but Supream over all their People to Rule and Govern them under himself and in his own room and place It is by him Kings reign saith Solomon Prov. 8.15 He sets them up saith Daniel 2.21 Wherefore not a Saul onely whom God particularly appointed to Rule his People Israel but Cyrus also an Heathen Prince is honour'd by the Mouth of God himself with that high Title of being God's Anointed Isa 45.1 And in this matter there is great Harmony between the Gospel and the Law St. Paul tells us The higher powers are God's Ordinance Rom. 13.1 2. And that they Rule as his Vice-gerents Deputies and Lieutenants in hiâ— room and place that is For ver 4. 'T is said He is the Minister of God Nay they are dignifyed so as to be styled Gods of old Exod. 22.28 Psal 82.1 That is Gods on earth as Vice-roys to the God of Heaven and Earth â—nd who by his Commission are to keep good order in the World by punishing Wickedness and Vice and encouraging Religion and Vertue among the Sons of Men. Wherefore whatsoever injuries and affronts shall be offer'd unto them they do redound to God himself whose Character they bear and whose Person they represent Doth it not stand to all reason then that the Almighty should own abet and be especially concern'd for his own Commissioners and in the Execution of the Trust receiv'd from him Can it be otherwise than that his peculiar Providence should be engaged for his Highest Officer upon Earth who derives his Title from and is an Immediate substitute to the Supreme in Heaven Do we not know That Earthly Soveraigns will be careful for the greatest safety and best respect to those whom they depute to supply their place in Administring Justice to their Subjects And will they not avenge indignities put upon those Ministers with severity because they light upon Themselves at last by whom they are Authoriz'd And who can doubt but that the Supreme Governour of the Universe will take equal care of Princes that stand in the like relation unto him and for like reason We may be well assured of it And shall be better by what follows 2. 2 Consid The Charge God lays on People concerning them If God commandeth us the Highest Value Greatest Respect and Vtmost Service to our Soveraigns it must be necessarily admitted That the Almighty hath most tender and especial care for them King Davids so strict a charge to his General and other Captains concerning Absalom for the safety of him and their kindness to him 2 Sam. 18. makes it most manifest how dear he was unto his Father and what an Affectionate care he took of him Thus an Indulgent Providence towards Princes cannot but be inferred since we do find the Word of God so copious in the New as well as Old Testament for exacting such true and high Devotion unto Kings and this as rooted in our minds so professed by our Mouthes and attested to by our Lives To be particular 1. 1. Our Mind It was from God that Solomon spake it Prov. 24.21 My son fear thou the Lord and the King and meddle not with them that are given to change A man would think upon first Hearing that this Counsel were directed peculiarly to our times But certain 't is that as 't was not amiss for any age so it is very proper to the present Generation And observe the Precept serves to put our Minds into the fittest temper towards those that are Above us the Heavenly and the Earthly Soveraign and that 's of Fear I knows This commonly coucheth under it all the Expression of Love and Duty and Obedience But as I need not so I shall not thus consider it here Wee 'l keep it therefore to its stricter and most proper sense of Awe and Reverence Esteem and Veneration of the Mind unto its Object So God is indeed to be first served as he best deserveth First we must fear the Lord who is King of Kings and next the King who is under him and over us The meaning is the Best opinion and most worthy thoughts of Princes must be entertained by us The most fair construction must be put on all their Counsels and Affairs that they can possibly bear And we may not
dare to let loose our Minds to other Methods For then adiew the fear and reverence that we owe them The Holy Preacher means this very thing when he forbids to Curse the King so much as in our thoughts Eccles 10.20 Every evil and unworthy and indecent Conception of him is to be utterly banished But alas have we not in the present Age too many secret Shimei's at the least Whose pleasure 't is to frame the worst Idea's of their Governours and their Actions in their own minds and are then in travel to be deliver'd of them to their Neighbours on the first opportunity Yet Holy Scriptures teach us no such Doctrine but the contrary And as we have heard what the Precept here instructs us in so we shall find the Prehibition added doth confirm it Meddle not with them that are given to change Whence we plainly learn both That Irreverence towards a Soveraign hath a tendency to Subversion of his Government and especially that for the preservation of our due respect unto him we ought to shun the Conversation of Dissaffected Persons to the Present Lawful Establishment To be given to change is commendable in nothing because it argues want of Reason's Ballast and betrays the levity of a fickle Mind but is utterly to be condemn'd when it tends to a removal of what God hath Establish'd Novelty 't is true is but too grateful unto Humane Nature It was so in its Innocency But the issue thereof was horrible mischief A desire to change involv'd our First Parents and all their Posterity in lamentable Woe Hence is sprung up our degeneracy from that Primitive Purity wherein we were made And this great Itch of Novelty is not the least part of our Degeneracy But what vast expences of Treasure and Lives besides mens dearest Consciences it hath put the World to in the several States and Kingdoms thereof I need not insist on For who can forget to what a dismal Pass Three Realms of our own were thereby lately brought And much more doth it therefore concern us to regard the good caution from Heaven to have nothing to do with Novelists not to meddle with them that are given to change Of old the Good and old way went both together Jer. 6.16 To be sure where God hath set up his Landmark 't is an horrible Trespass to attempt its plucking down And Kingship we hear is God's own Establishment If then we will fear the Lord we must next unto him fear the King likewise That is maintain the greatest reverence and best opinion of him in our Mind And this is the first part of God's charge on People towards their Soveraigns to shew the peculiar care he taketh of them The Second and next is 2. Mouthes That our Mouth be managed suitable to our Mind We must be always ready to speak as well as think the best of Princes We may by no means dare to utter any thing reproachful of them And this is also part of God's Charge upon us concerning them For Exod. 22.28 'T is Written Thou shalt not revile the Gods nor speak evil of the Rulers of thy people Their very Title of being Gods should lay an awe on men toward them and God's command requires most Reverend Speeches of them Railings and Reproaches of our Equals or Inferiours are Unchristian Practices and condemned in the Holy Gospel But to serve Superiors at that rate a Soveraign especially is much more hamous and to be abhorr'd even to Hell from whence it comes Those men then can have no conscience towards God that make no conscience to revile the Gods For they have no regard to the Word of God which doth so expresly forbid this wickedness Let them beware whose filthy Mouthes trade in traducing and defaming the Persons and Proceedings of their Lawful Governours 'T is very observable That when St. Paul had by surprizal onely less decently and when unjustly used rebuked his Superiour but one much Inferiour to a Soveraign Prince he doth not onely Apologize for that miscarriage with a plausible excuse That it was his ignorance thrust him on so doing upon his own long absence from Jerusalem and their great confusion in the choice of Officers we must understand but he is honestly plain in professing That such behaviour is not to be justified but Condemn'd Acts 23.3 5. And he quotes the very Text of Exodus which you last heard of to that purpose Now how unlike that holy man and how inexcusable with all good men are Those too many of this present Age who without regard to Truth or falshood or any good manners in the World and to be sure against all Christian Reverence to the Word of God and their Lawful Governours make it their business to fill their own Minds and then the Ears of others with jealousies and suspitions nay with Male-interpretations plain slanders and Reproaches of the Highest Powers How any such Persons though they would be counted Christ's Disciples and perhaps esteem themselves of the Highest Form among them can reconcile such Practices with Gospel Principles is never to be shewed We are certain of this and I pray God they may consider it as they ought That those people have the blackest Brand put on them who Despise Dominions and speak evil of Dignities both in 2 Pet. 2.10 and Jude 8. Another and Second Instance to the former purpose Last of all 3. Lives our lives must give an Attestation to our Minds and Mouthes God doth require that we should be Internally and Externally All of a piece towards our Princes 1. Obey their Laws We must be ready to obey their Laws and support their State Touching the Former should it so happen that the command of an Earthly King should cross the command of the King of Heaven then such command is ipso facto superseded and hath no Obligation on us For that we ought to obey God rather than man is the Christian Doctine Act. 5.29 But withal take notice That when we cannot be active in Obeying we must be Passive in submitting And there is none allowance but an utter Condemnation of all Resistance and Rebellion in the case and by the self same Doctrine of our Religion St. Paul injoyneth That every soul be subject to the Higher Powers Rom. 13.1 There is none excepted be he Prophet Apostle Bishop or of any other Order of Men whatsoever There is no Priviledge or Exemption of any The Pope of Rome indeed refuseth his Obedience to the Emperour and at Pleasure will discharge his Clergy or Laity from their Duty to their Natural Princes But the Apostle Paul and Apostate Pope are of Two Minds you see they are contrary one to the other Therefore that is one reason of the Apostles marking him for the Man of Sin in that he doth exalt himself above what is called God on Earth as well as Heaven 2 Thess 2.4 But whosoever will be St. Paul's Disciples and not the Popes must love Obedience and
The Practical Reflections on the Whole Practical Reflections which are but these Two For 1. Obedience to Man For 2. Thankfulness to God 1. For Obedience to Man the Magistrate 1 Reflect that is the King as Supreme and Governours as sent by him as St. Peter Expresseth it And I need do little else than pray you to remember What plentiful Testimony you have already had from the Holy Scriptures for this great Duty So that the Refusers hereof must needs be Rebellious against God disobedient unto and contemners of his Word Whoever will prove faithful Servants of the Lord must also be found Loyal Subjects to their Prince He can never be true unto God that is false to his Minister which the Magistrate is Be dutiful therefore in chearful complying with all good Laws And if any be suspected you must be paâ—…ent in submitting where you cannot be active in fulfilling Joyn also highest Veneration for your Governours and the Chief especially Having heard before That the best thoughts of them should always fill your Minds And let your Discourse be sparing about Publick Matters and still most reverend thereof and of those that manage them Is it fit to say unto a King Thou art wicked And to Princes ye are ungodly Job 34.18 Beware of speaking evil of the Rulers of the people Act. 23.5 The best Constructions and best Expressions of all Publick Managements do best become us and are due from us Our distance will not allow a due Judgment and our duty binds us to the fairest Interpretation of them The Covering very nakedness of Superiours gat the Blessing when the contrary method of divulging it brought the Curse Gen. 9. Private Men's Work doth lye at home within their own Sphear and such a Person should check his aptness to extravagate with Who makes Me a Judge as our Saviour once rebuked a Pragmatick Spirit Luk. 12.14 Why will any be so busie then in Affairs of State which are not their Province Would we consult the Spirit of the Gospel and tread his Steps the Prince of Peace and Lamb for Meekness that did send it and theirs the Sons of Peace of Patience and Submission who did bring it how easie would this business be and how effectual would the Counsel to it prove with All Let us therefore study to be quiet and do our own business as St. Paul Commands 1 Thess 4.11 And according to St. Peter make a full proof that we Fear God by Honour paid unto the King 2. For Thankfulness unto God 2 Reflect The just occasion for it hath so fully been already manifested that nothing else is wanting but the Practice of it whereto so many Motives press us How should our Hearts be now enlarged how should our Mouthes be open'd to Bless and Praise the Lord to Exalt and Magnifie his Name for this so great Salvation he hath wrought 'T was not our Strength and Power no Wisdome and Fore sight of ours nay nor our Care and Diligence that was contributary to the Deliverance But it was God's right Hand and his own Arm and the light of his Countenance that did All because he had a favour to us Shall we not say then and say it from our Hearts Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel who onely doth wondrous things and blessed be his Glorious Name for Ever and Ever Do we love our King Who ought to be the Delight of our Eyes the joy of our Hearts and the breath of our Nostrils Let us Magnifie then the Almighty and most Merciful God That his Anointed was not taken in their pits Have we a value for our Country Acquaintance Friends and near Relations are they dear unto us Let us Exalt his Name that is most High that they are not wallowing in their own goar nor it become a New Akeldama a Field of Blood again Is our Religion and the Gospel more than our very Lives with us Let us give thanks and praise to God that still he doth preserve them For had that wickedness prosper'd when Irreligion like a Deluge must have overwhelm'd us what had become of the Word and Ordinances of all true Piety and Devotion Can we forbear the Psalmists Language now Bless the Lord O our Souls and all within us magnifie his holy Name How should we from our Hearts as I said declare God's praises with our Mouths And let me add thereto before we part How should our Lives and Conversations Eccho hereunto For I must tell you That Thanksgiving unto God is not matter of meer Complement Nor are his Praises the labour of our Lips onely No man can be truly thankful unless he will be really holy To speak well of God and spurn his Laws the while is like to Joab's kind saluting of Amasa when he stab'd him Whilst the Life Dishonours God the praises of the Mouth are no better then Dung Sacrificed which will be thrown back with indignation into his Face that offers it Will the most Holy and Alseeing God account That Tongue doth bless his Name as it ought with Thanks and Praise whose daily trade it is to Blaspheme the same with horrid Oathes and Execrations Or can he reckon those Persons thankful for his Mercies whatever they say that abuse those very Mercies to the Service of their Lusts and Satan What Atheism and Prophaneness pay God the Tribute of his Praises Can drunken Healths or wanton Embraces open Violences or secret frauds or any irreligious Courses give him Glory to whom they bid Defyance Assure your selves That ungodly Lives and holy Praises are like the Ark and Dagon they never stand together in the sight of God You must therefore either necessarily leave your Sins or loose your Thanks how fair soever they may seem If we would then be truly Thankful and to God's Acceptance Let us praise him with our Lips and please him in our Lives Let 's being deliver'd from our Enemies serve him that hath deliver'd us in righteousness and holiness before him all our days Luke 1.75 This is that Thanksgiving which is alone thank-worthy All other is not Current Coyn indeed Reprobate Silver or meer Dross Let us be renewed and reformed therefore Let us Renounce the works of darkness and walk as Children of the light Let us cleanse our selves from filthiness of Flesh and Spirit to the perfecting holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7.1 Without a sincere endeavour after which as our Praise is lost so are our Persons too for ever For God hateth all the workers of iniquity And take this further Motive hereunto You would be surely counted Loyal to your Prince but give me leave to tell you a debauch'd vicious and sinful Life is so far from being any proof thereof that it gives great cause to fear the contrary 'T is somewhat hard to think How that Man should be truly Loyal to his King that is an open Rebel against God So such Sinners are Whatever Obligation they may stand in to their Prince those on them unto God are infinitely greater And what security is there that he that breaks the stronger Bond should not likewise snap the weaker This we are sure of That Prophane and Ungodly Subjects may by their wicked Lives work great mischief to their Soveraign though they may not mean it in their Minds And so we are urged unto Holiness on the account of Loyalty also 'T was the Prophets Counsel unto Subjects 1 Sam. 12.24 25. Fear the Lord and serve him in Truth with all your heart for consider how great things he hath done for you And it follows But if ye still do wickedly ye shall be destroyed both ye and your King See here the Publick Mischief that may be done by Private Persons continuing in their wickedness Even Majesty it self is not secure from it And 't is strange Loyalty that over-turns Soveraignty Whereto 't is manifest That Subject's Sins have an apparent tendency For a Conclusion of all If we love our King our Country our Friends our Selves both Souls and Bodies let it be our care and business with highest Praises for all God's mercies and This signal One to joyn the Holy Practice of all God's Commandments Then Whoso offereth praise glorifyeth me saith the Scripture and to him that ordereth his Conversation aright will I shew the Salvation of God Psal 50.23 FINIS