* i ts - a ae Ee a Oy eT ss oe 7 ae a aa coepeemeenimnertmmtal ERP hE SIRE SF Uy TERETE SLA TA DA IAPR Be seat NPS Aba WDE SA DASOS TT Wl Te SRSA TEDL ARSE PAAA SEP DRED RE Rey FPR SICA A aero eee , Foe pi oa Ne Dre . anise : ey ge a Bs eee ; sae ; ! : & ? S ay ) ‘ + gine 2 : ; : : | q ey ~) “ A : wal iy eae Bry 3 * I : , | fas | | : : : . . z . . ath ; i ae ‘ . &. | . aa fs : : : i f ‘ : . | i : . . , Bat | | i 4a % 5 4 = 4 « | j % cain, ee cae a 2 Downfal of Pyranny. A TREATISE, wherein L IDE RIT @ "TYRANNY Condemned, by + the Law of God and Right Reaz fon: And fhe Peoples Power, - and Duty, to execue Fu- ns . ice,without,and upon, - , Picked Governors, =a By Laophilus Mifotyrannus, a ¥ t ‘@ Si he — mci - 4 ed ; b t t A 4 Repaeer . bias ab ae eh ae “iy ri rl re H KY P. “Y | Caitahiiane 5 ‘crigiaral Défeription of Aaasitei 3 ‘ahh ‘fig | that ts an Ordinance of Ged, what kgnd of Qrtinanee, afidar ink what refpett at ts an n Ordinance of Man, iat aha od piece of building > inthe firlt place to draw in a narrow compafs' a Platform of the fame , according to which they afterwards raife the StruQure 21 chink ir not unprofitable for me to imitate them ; : I fhall therefore prefent you.with a Platform-of the following work, - Tmeana Defcription of Maviftracy, which comprebends ina few words thofe, feveral Particulars which are the fubjeét of this Treatife.: Maviftracy i is an Ordinance of God, for the right ordering of Oh | vs monwealths ; whereby fuch as are meet for Government, ate lawfully © called to ferve God and the People therein, for his Glory and their — Good , in the execution of Judgement, and protection of thofe com- mitted totheir charge, and receive dae Power, Honour, Tribute, and Obedience therefore. This Defcription takes in e(peciaily thefe feven Particulars 5a. The Nature of Magiftracy. 2. The Endof Magi- firacy. 3. The Call of Magifitates. 4. The Qualifications, 4, ‘The Relation of Magiftrates. 6, The Daty. 7, The Due of “Magi. - ftrates, or What is due to them from the People ; which is-as much ¢ as I judge neceflary at this prefent featon for the handling ‘of this” point. 6» I thall endeavout in the ftrength of God to treat of them all diftingts ly, from Scripture and right Reaton, with What brevity and perfpicuity this weighty and knotty Sudjeét, and the rapicity of common Readers will allow. The Lord open my underftanding, that. may underftand the Scrip= tures which relate to. this Subjedt, “and fo guide me by his Spirit, that _ knowing I may make known his mind concerning this great Ordinance of his, isi hath fo long been abufed.; and thereby infttucé the Igno= gant, and convince ihe Gainfayers of thofe Tatiths, which i Scxiptuses: deliver concerning the fame. ~~. Firft, Then to begin with the Nature of Macifiracy. 7 yas Tris an Ordinance ot God for the right ordering, of Cormonwealtlis. Tha Magiaieny 1S an. Ordinance of God, As fo 0 ¢Rar from the abundant B oo 33 "T being the ufaal method of Archite eats alia fie eee a. /Simony which the Scriptures give thereunto, bork in the old and > yew Tettanrenc, and fo Univerfally acknowledged by all fober and ra- tional perfons, that I thall only,.mention.a. few Scriptures for proof of _ > itand fo proceed. Dent, 16.18,— Rom,1 3.1.10 4.—Tsius 3.3.— % Pet,2, (Quek. Bat the Oucfion will be, what kind of Ordinance thisis? for we ~ pead- of feveral forts of Ged’s Ordinances ; Ordinances of the Paffeover, Numb.9.12. Ordinances of the Houle of God, Ezek.44.5. Ordinances of ~ ” Divine Service, Heb.9.1. Ordinances of Fuftice, Ila.5 8.2. S » dafw, Te is an Ordinance of Juftice or Rtehteouinefs imftituted by ~ God, for the execution thereof, that Commonwealihs may be ordered ‘in a jut and righteous manner. ett er Gad is the God of Order, and ashe delights therein, fo hathheap= _ pointed Order for all his Creatures, but-efpecially for Man; Order for every oneas confidered apart; orderfor Societies of men, and tholeof feveral forts, which I fhall not here enumerate. There are politick or | civil Societies,and in thefe men, as men, joyn together to live by Rules: of common Right, for civil Comfort and Security. There are Societies ~ Ecclefiattical ; in thefe men, as Saints, joyn together to live by Rules of » Gofpel-Order, for the Glory of God, and mutual edification in Faith, and Holinefs. The former are ufually termed Commonwealths, the fatter Churchés ; which as they differ in name, foalfoinnature, as is hinted above, having different Subjets, Laws,Governours, Duties and BGs. 2 cH . ; ce eee _ The latter fort of Societies fall not under prefent confideration, be- caufe Magiftracy is an Ordinance inftituted for all mankind ; and Ma- giftrates have the care of men, as men, committed to their charge, | 2 Sam.23.3. as is alfo clear by this, that Heathen Magiftrates, if righ- teous, are true Maeiftrates ; although I deny not, but Saints, as men, are bound to fubmic to this great Ordinance as well as others; and as they are. members of civil Communities, are obliged by thofe Rules sehle B t ci Do SED hs NOE INS Ee ES ea Ye ag Ra ee a ¥ Re Nt ees of common right which other members are, ~ 5 _ _ Politick or civil Societies, ufually termed Commonwealths, are.the proper Objects of this Ordinance ; which, as they:cannot fubfift with- _~ and occafions, conftitute Governours over them, according to thofe - feveral forms and manners of Government which feveral Nations des _ ) light in : And thus the very lavage J ndians and Americans themfelves, ___ five in fome meafure of obedience unto this great Ordinance of God; ; le Light of Nature convincing them, that Government is neceflary to ; their well-being; fliewing hereby the work of the Law written in their Hearts ; _ out Orderand Government, fo according to their various inclinations. > , hearts ; as ees Rom, 2.15. for this Ordinance of Mae giitracy, 1s a branch of that Law, as youmay fee, Deut.16.18. and many other places, But although.Magiftracy, in the general, be an Or- | dinance of God, yet.as.to the feveral kinds and mannersof. inna 2 74 O.dinance or Conftitution of man, God\having left men to their liber-777 ty, to make choice of this.orthac manner of Government; whichin the / belt of their underltanding, feems moft conducibleto his Glory, ands -_ their own fecurity ; for God hath not Jeft men te an abfolute liberty, to | chufe what Government they pleafe, without-re(ped to the ends-of Go- : vernment; but all Nations. and People are obliged bythe Lawof Na= | ture, ferioufly to confult and wifely to confider, what form of Govern= dq ment is moft expedient for them, and bett correipondine with the Ends ~ of Government, and to chufe that, aS eee | : Now, what-ever righteous. form of Government a Nation chufes, may in that fenfe be called their Ordinance or. Conftitution : and yerae? = 1t 1s grounded upon the Law of God, itis God's Ordinancealfo, and’, obligeth all that live under it to fubje@tion. uta : eae . And this ts the true meaning of that place, x Pet,2.13, tox6. Sub='- mit your felves to every Ordinance of man forthe Lord’s fake: itisnot meant (as the wicked Antichriftian-Prelates would perfwade the Peo-”™ ple to believe ) every Law of man, good or bad, righteous or unrighte.’ ° ous; for we know that neither Chrift, the Prophets,or Apoftles, would. | - fubmit to wicked ftatutes or ordinances of their Governours ; ‘but every. | righteous Conftitution or kind of Government, called the Ordinance of’ | man, becaufe God hath leftmen to their liberty, to chufe what /pecies. | of Government may be moft conducible to cheir own good. ~ ge Having given you adefcription of Magiftracy, and fhewn you that ie* a - isan Ordinance of God, what kind of Ordinance, what is the proper’ 4 | Obje& of it, and in what fence it is an Ordinance of man, I fhall clofé this firft Chapter, and in the next treat of the fecond particularthe End’ | of Magiftracy, | a3 ae, a Coe en TS oe ae | eet ee ee et Ne ee eR pre Sf a a Inf ar oa a in ene EPP ee Tene sree pts ‘ rf * , 5 { Office of Cheif- Prieft, but Chief-Magiftrate alfo. _ ftrates acting in conformity thereto, ‘ f ~ x bs Nace RS eae * * ‘ et ae hie’ Reve sae Ys poe ES . oat - . ) eee 4 ‘ % 7 * : = = is 4 esp, , ¥ La; FB, ais #29 ‘i ; Bh aa oh ee eR Ree: pes i ae alii Fearn ‘ of obis.ctenlle for which thes great Ordinance was inflit sted by God : ; : that # i his own Glory, and the Peoples good. Alfo foewing that thefe “ S _ ¢ fhould be the Peoples ends in cleiting Governours , and Governonrs ends in 4. accepting and executing thar Office. . : We fecond Particular which falls under confideration, is the End or SL Ends of this great Ordinance, The Glory of God, and’ good of the Cn ae Leora = ae The Honour and Glory of God. Magiftrates are called God’s ' Minifters, or Servants, as the Word fignifies, and is frequently render- edin other places; Rom. 13.4. Hew the Servant of God. Now a Ser~ vant honoureth his Mufter, Mal.1.6. they being by their Office Servants” . of God, are bound in their feveral places to feek how they may honour and glorifie Him. Therefore David exhortech the Mighty (or Princes: of the Earth, asthe Word often fignifies, and the Contents of your Bi-— bles have it). to give Glory to God, Pfal.29.1. yea,repeats the Exhortati<: on thrice together, to let us underftand, that they in an efpecial man- “merare obliged. to promote and advance the glory of God. Therefore’ that good King Fehofhaphaty in that pious chargewhich he gives to the Judges, to judge faithfully, couragioufly, impartially, and inthe fear _ of God, ufes this as his argument to enforce the Exhortation ; ‘For ye judge not for man, but for God, 2Chron.19.6, your work is not to pleafe men, but to honour and glorifie God, for whom ye judge: And becaufe> Eli had not fo careful. a refpe@ to this end, but honoured his Sons’before | God, fuffering them to make their own ends of God’s Ordinance, the Loid rejected him and his pofterity ; depriving them not only of the El was the chief Magiftrate, and had judged the Land. 40 years, ro 1 Sam.4.%8, and the Lord had promifed that his Houfe thould walk be. fore Him for ever ; but the meaning was upon condition, thar-he and. eo petialcy honoured God in their places ; but when he negleéted to - - honour God, the Lord refufed to honour him. or his pofterity, with that Office, 1.Sarz.2,30% anddenounces one of the moft dte ral Judgments againft him and his pofterity that the CORRS). | 3 2. The Good of the People, Magifiracy iv its Inflitution, as the acful tempo~ Scripture re~ Therefore the Apoftle treating of Ordinance of God, and of Magi- drawes a {trong argument for fub- - : jection ee ae "8 ves ot wees hh) ies C5 y ; i eice ane ne Aten 4 jeBion to them from the end of Magiftracy; For (fayeshe) heisthe .« | Servant of God taghee for good, Rom. 13.4. as if he thould havefaid, rediyou to be fubjeét to Magiftracy as it is an Ordi- have indeed exf@rted:you : &fhewn you the danger of refitting that Ordinance, nance of God, or thofe that a& conformably thereunto; but do not miftake me, asif — I had no other argument to urge for your fubjection, than God’s Sove-. -raignty, thatitis his Ordinance, and therefore you muft be fubje&: I tell youone end for which God inftituted this Ordinance, was your ' Good ; he hath not only confulted his own Glory in this Ordinance, but | your benefit and advantage. Die ee a Made uae Thus. you fee how the Lord draws us with the cords of aman, and bandsof love, Hof.'s1.4. as wellin this as other Ordinances of hiss he deals with man asa rational creature, and propofes arguments fuita-” ble to his nature, and conducing to his advantage, thereby to allure him. to fubjeCtion to his moft righteous will; and what a tender regard. the Lord had,as well to the good of mankind, as the glory of his own name, in the Inftitution of this Ordinance. 5 Se RE Ae yee Andif thefe bé Gods Ends in this Ordinance, furely they thould be. the Peoples alfo: if thefe be the ends of Gods Inftitution ‘of Magi- ftrates, they fhould be the Peoples in Election of them. I fhall thew you hereafter, that by the Law of God and Nature,» the People have: ay. undoubted right to make their Governours; but you muft.not under (tand an abfolute or arbitrary power to chufe what Government of Go-~ _ vernours the Devil and their own Iufts fhall excite them to, buc fuch'a” form of Government and fuch’Governours, as may anfwer the end-of. | Gad’s Ordinance, his Glory, and their own Good, . How careful alfo fhould Magiftrates be to anfwer they were ordained by God ; -thefe ought to be, yea, are the greatends ‘of every true Magiftrate, to honour God; and ferve his Generation :. He that feeks his own advantage by the Government, neglecting the, ends above mentioned, doth not deferve the Name of a Magiftrate,. « andis indeed a real Tyran’, ufurping théfe Titles which are due toa. 9 y true andrighteous Magiltrate, fe RP SOK RS “And whata zeal had bleffed A4:fes for the honour of God. and co6d of Vee the People ? when’ God would have deftroyed them,and offered to make. of him a greater and mightier Nation than they (a temptation almoft beyond the power of fleth and bldod to refift ) he refutes to accept the . - offer, and pleads with God to confult the glory of his own Name, and. his compaffions to the People, Nwmb.14,12,t020, ~~ ‘Another time, how doth he intercede forthe People, Exod, 32.32. O Lord, 1 pra) thee forgrue the fin of this People, and if nor,blot noe out of thr - Boor ; A 2 - the end for which . Book ; * tplive _ his people, and {peak peace to all his feed, -_ ee ~ is}. | ™ as if he would not have been content. to go to Heaven,or at leaf, untefs the Peoples fin were pardoned ; he firtle minded the ad-. varicing of himfelf or his polterity, that would not hedifken to amotion ; made by Fs fli to deftroy Uraely and make of him.a Nation, ind migh:ier than they. 3% ‘ eee “Tn like manner Fof/wa, that faithful Governour, made the, honour of God and the Peoples good, the ends of his Adminiftration, Jif, 7. 8. What a publick Spiric had Nehemiah? how truly did he ferve God and: the People, in the Office of chief Magiftrate > he was fo far fom breake, ing down the Walls of the City, that he and all his Servants-continued. in the work of building the Wall, anddid not fo much as put off cheir cloaths ( except for wafhing ) ull itwere finifhed ; he would buy no: Land, noreat the Bread of the Governour (as others had done before him) while the people were in bondage, becaufe of the fearof God, Nehem, 4.23. and Chap.5.14.toend. This was the endof goed Aor-. de-cx, when he was. advanced to great Authority, to feek the welfare of. . & CHAD, IIL Treating of the Call of Magiftrates, both fupream and (ubordinate ; Pew ang that both by the Laws of God and Nature, the right of making Gover » ‘nonrs w inherent in the People, | PEE 3 eG | : f Aving briefly paffed over two particulars, I come to the third), , A The Call of Adagifirates; whichis twofold, Jmmediate and Me- dime” , 7 a odin: “a. Immediate,when God by virtue of his Sovereignty doth immedis. . _ ately call aman to the Gover®nent,and give him his Commiffion,as he: did Aofes, Exed.3. calling to him out of the bufh. So Fofhua, Num.27, 16,to 19.God himfelf by his own Voice, appointed Fofhea to his Office = This Call is eafily known by fome figns or tokens, whereby the Lord makes known his mind to the People ; as AMofes, to fatisfie the people that, he was called of God, gave them figns by God’s appointment, _ Exod.4.1,t0 9, So Fofbaahad fome of Adofes’s honour put upon him, { that all the Congregation of Hraelmight be obedient untohim, Numb, 27.20. that is, as I conceive, an extrrordinary portion of Mofes’s Spirit, was given to him to qualific him for that great Truft which he was. toundertake, Wumb, 11, 17. t026, Wesead the Lord took’of the Spi__ fit that was upon 44o/es, and gave ittothe Seventy which were to affitt \ \ nim in the Government: No doubr the fame, butin 4 oreater theafure. ee a 5 \ pty y Was bellowed upon Fofhaa, as one Who was not only to affit, but fucceed : Mofes in the place of chief Magiltrate, thatthe people (feeine the ex. ‘cellency of his Spirit) might be contentgo hearken ua : ich i evident by Deur. 34. 9.: Sofbua, the fon of Nun, was fall of the Spirtt of Wifdoms, for Mofes had lard bis hands on bins, and the Children of Iftacl ~ hearkened unto him. King overt the King. Therefore we rea _ A Call very near to this, though notin the frickelt fence, Jmmedi. ate,was that of Gideon, Fudg.6.14. who was called by an Angel fent frony: _ Heaven ; and perhaps many other of the Judgeg were called in-the fame manner: but whoever‘hath this Call,hath fomeching or other, either in the manner of bis Call, orin the excellency of his Spitit,er both,which | is fufficient to convince the People, that he is one appointed byGodte be their Governour, amd thar it is their duty to hearken to, and obey him ; asthe People did foftua, = Se ee ee _ . 2, There is a mediate Call, when God calls a. man to the Govern- ee : _ Ment, by and with the confent and concurrence of the people : And thus : the Kings of Ifrael were called, by the confent of the people, who con- ftituted them ; andic.was the Peoples right by the Law of God to fet the hem, Dewt.17.14,15. "twas the Peoples a& thatconftituted d all the People went to Gilzal to make Saul ‘kin e. 1 Sam. 11,15. The,people made David King‘of Fudah, 2 Sam. 2.4. and afterwards all the Tribes of J/rael came to Hebron to make him King of Ifrael, 1 Chron. 42.38, Solomom was made King by all the Consre~ gation, £ Chren.29,20, All the People came to Shechem to make Re- hoboam King, 2Chroz.10.1. and when he refufed to eafe them of their burdens and oppretlions ,rejeQted himsand made Fereboams Kine, x Kings x2.20, Allthe people of Fudah took #zziah, and made him King, - 2 Chron.26,1. The people of the Land made Jafiah King, 2 Chron.33. | 25. The people of the Land took Fehoahaz and made him sh Chron. 36.1, The people made «Abimeleck King, -Fudg, 9.6, Bya | which it’ plainly appears, that the right of making Kings was in the People, "The fame we find concerning all. other Magiftrates and Officers, that -’< the people were to make them by the Law of God, Dewr.16.18. Fa Lied and Officers halt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the Lord thy God gt~ veth thee throughout thy Tribes, ana thy fhall judge the people with juft | judgement. : | Be gat ae sie SU. Ce aah ae ey ~~ Andind eed itis a piece of ereateft folly and imprudence for the peo-, , ple topart with their right of making Magiftrates, either Supream ot _ Subordinate : to commit the making of Judges and other Officers to the - wes ne King, jim; Whichie } | f | (8) “God requires, arundervaluing of our birth-right, and a refignation of ‘our Laws, Lives, Liberties,and Effates, to his will. + which King James __.. “ktew well enough to be an eminent expedient of King-craft, when he | ‘uled:to fay, Let me make wht Judges and Bifleps I will, and Iml have “pothing tobe Law or Gofpel but what I pleafe, - | by Judges and Lawyers, that the Law. ts fo wrefted, Jultice perverted, and Violence committed, when they neglect their duty.of making Judges, King ; who will be fure to chufe fuch as fhall advance his Prerogative, ~ atid debafe the Peoples Liberty as much as liesinthem, and dare do no - mans Life, Liberty, or Eftate,. which the King hath a defire to take away, ahdithatunder a pretence of Law, when the fudge, Sher ff, Fu- ia flsces, and Jury, areall his Creatures and Vaflals; and the Judge muft _ faythatis Law which the Kixg would have fo, or elfe be turned ont of Bigplaes, Wich ufually he hich bought at the price of fome Thoufands ma, ef Sounds, +t ee One ee ee Oe ee The Sheriff muft pick a. Jury thathe knowes before-hand will give : what verdi@’ the Judge bids them, orelfe be judged an enemy to the . . King : And the Juftices upon rhe Bench,dare as well go upon hot coals, | is oppofe the Kings Pleafure.. HE ; : challenge their right by the Law of God,..to make Judges and Officers » <. _ themfelves, who.tmay execute juft Judgement. ~~ eee i . | _. and neolest their duty,& cowardly or carelefly to refign their Priviled-. " a . . ’ “Officers themfelves,according to the Law of God, they could not be fo _abufed as they are, , ee Objet. Bar doth. not the Law fay, that the people were to make him K ing . - whomthe Lord fhould chufe? Deut.17.15. It flould feem by this, thatrbe people have not libersy.tom ke {uch as they pleafe, but are to accept of {uch as God hach appointed forthe Government. op ea . Anfw, Vhis argued&hat God did intend often, ont of his efpecial: ings, is by interpretation aneglect of ourewn duty which the Lawof _~ "No wonder thatthe people of this Nation are fo grievoufly oppreffed Sheriffs, Fuffices of the Peace, and other Officers, and commit it to the. ~ other for fear of his difpleature ; how eafie a thing isit to take away any. And never Will it-be otherwife, intefs the people crow fo wife, asto ~ I€a People will bz {0 bafe, as like Efa#, to contemn their birth-right, | yes into the hands of a King ;’tis no wonder if they {mart forit,as Eng- fand at this day; if the people were fo wife as to make Judges & allother ° . favour to Ifrael, to make the choice himfelf of the perfon thatfhould reign over them; but this did not at all infringe the peoples rights or. _ liberties ; for the Lord to thew how tender he was of the peoples liber- ty, atthe fame time when he chofe for them, appoinied thim tocon- _ ftitute \ \ ce) / ~ ftitute him. God chofe him, bue say made him King. I thalf notde- ny, but if God be pleafed at any time in an extraordihary manner to — choofe a Governour for us, and fend a Prophet tomake known his mind © tous, as he did Samuel to appoint Saw/, and after him David ;-Abijah t i" 4 to appoint Feroboam; Elifha to appoint Febu, it is our duty to make-hing —— : ~ King’: But God doth not do fo with other Nations as he did with J/kaeh— He hath not {ent any Prophet to tell us whom he appoints, but-Hath” left all Nations to their undubitable birth-right, to conttitute fuch Go- - vernours over them, asin the beft of their underftanding are rightly | qualifiedforit. - . i = e er: oe ObjeA. Bat deth not Conqueft or Hereditary Succeffion manifeft the mill of God to wu, and oblige ws to confiitute aperfon,now that extraordinary wayof revealing the nnd of God by Prophets ceafes, jected fees Sol, As for Conqueft, the pretence of a right to the Government over others from it, is fo srofly irrational and injurious to mankind, — "that it fearcely deferves an An{wer; a Title not allowed by the tamer fort of bruit beafts,a title fit to be owned among none burt beatts of prey. For what is Conqueft ( fimply confidered ) but Violence? and the continuation buta continue reflion ? : Seen oe JT know the Advocates of Tyranny, urge that of Vebuchadezzar’s Title to govern Judah and all the Nations round about by Conqueft; and of the Lords Peoples sight to the Land of Canaan, and the neighbour Na- tions by the fame, but itis a grofle miftake. For the right Nebschadnex- xar had tothe Land of Fadah, was rfot by Conqueft, but Donation from _ God, and the Lord fent the Prophet Feremiah to tell the Peofile of J/- yael and allthe Nations round about, That he hadgiven all thofe King- “doms to Nebuchadzexzar and his Sons for the {pace of feventy years,and ~ threatens to punifh that Nation that would not ferve him, withthe — - Sword, Famine and Peftilence, fer. 27. 1, to 9. Solikewife, *twasthe Lord’s Dénation that gave J/rae/ a Title to thofe Nations, and we know well,7 hat the Earth ts the Lords,and the fulne{s th:veof, and he may give it _ towhom he pleafeth. If any one.can prove infallibly, that God hath made — him a grant of the Kingdom of England, to him and his Heirs for feven- _ty yeats or more, I thinkit our duty to acquiefce in the foveraignwill and geod pleafure of God, and not to oppofe its but if this cannot be proved, itis in vain toplead Conqueft, Force and Right are as oppofite__ ‘toone another as Light and Darknefs, A Pirate that hath conquered a _Ship may plead as much right to goverrrit as a Conqueror to govern a Common-wealth. a a ee ne And as for Succeffion by Birth, though itbe an Aroument of a paler - Complexion than Conqueft,- us ich is a Title died in Blood sa oe Pa | ee ? at eS iach it'as-fitele ftrérigth as the other. My meaning is, that Royal Prie xo) = |» mogeniture alone, without the Peoples:Confent, is no rightful Title to. the Government. Or, thatthe eldeft Son or Heir of a King, lawfully. begotten (40 fay. nothing of Battards ) hath no- right to the Govern- -ment by Birth, unlefs the People confent to Choofe him. thereunto.” Which Tprove thus. ihe Mose ee acute iae | 1, Becaufe it is diréétly contrary tothe Law of Nature in many — Belpects.. ache We £6 ; bao a La oe I i \E Firff." It makes the whole inferiour to.a-part,. yea-to one member, _ “which is moft abfurd, for ifa man may Govern over a Common-wealth | “without their confent, then are they inferiour to him: the Will of one man muft be preferred above the Willkof the whole, perhaps many Sanilions. 2 ee SeUD Oe eo oF Secondly, This pretence ofa right to. the Government by Birth, ra- | “-wifheth Nature itfelf, offers violence to her, For, whereas fhe ju@tly © claims @ power conftitutive of Magiftrates, and hath derivedit tothe | “© People as-her.Truftees, this Argument would deprive both themand her | ‘thereof. - a ELS Oe Cosby: & That Nature hath committed the: conftitution-of Governoirs to the | People; is clear, becaufe the hath not determined the Heirs of Kings any | - more than others ;- ea Nature i1s-often- more liberal in beftowing her : -- ‘Magiftratical endowments-on many thoufands. ( fometimes on the | wreatelt number of men) than on the Royal Progeny, as they are called “and cives more Wifdom, Courage, Kindnefs, Temperance, Faithful. | » It pronounceth the People home-born Slaves. Which, what ingenuoug,2 fpirit can bear ? For, if all the People muft, againft their Wills, be fub- Yeo jet to one man, and honour, maintain and obey him, what more perfect _ 4 “ character of Vaflalage than this ? Thofe wretches that knowingly plead \O\ for this Title, deferve to be ftigmatized inthe foreheads as common (7 - enemies to mankind. - | 7 Ce . Fourthly, Nay, this pretence of a right to the Government by Birth, without the confent of the People, divefts the People of all Power of ~ Self-prefervation ; for the Office of the Magiftrate (as I fhall thew ee more hereafter ) is to protect and defend the People, and the common. fecurity of the People lyes in having godd Governours : Now if the. Eldeft Son ofa King be. a perfon-vitioufly enclined, one given to ma- lice, revenge, luxury, intemperance, avarice, falfity, or the like Vices, - and yet the People bound to accept of him for their Governour becaufe —___ of his Birth, they muft be bound to. renounce their own fafety, and Se brace deftruGtion ; which the Law of Nature forbids, and common Rea- fon will abhor. a ta eee ee oe _ «Thus you-fee how this pretended Birth-right. to the Government, ‘doth violate the Law of Nature, and tend to cheat the People of their real Birth-rights, Liberty and Security. Let us enquirea little into Scri- — pture, and we fhall find that 1¢ is. as contrary to Scripture as Nature. 2, The Scripture gives not the leaft countenance unto this. pretend= ed Title of Birth-right to the Government 5 and no. wonder, for it ne- ver was the intent of God, to repeal the Law of Nature by Scriptufe,) but to explain and confirm the fame. But that Imay argue diftindtlys, confiderthefe particulars. | Bag Sree as Firffy The Law of God cotfcerning the making of a King, hath not @ | ‘word of this : The Law doth not enjoyn the People to make the Eldeft 9 — Son ‘of 2 King Govesnour in his Fathers ftead,or {peaks of an Hereditary #75 "79 Title to the Crown, but plainly ‘intimates the contrary, Dest. £7,354 Os to the end. For firft, the Law. requires qualifications in him that the ie A People were to fet over them; He muft be one thus and thus qualified, = J which I fhall open more fully inthe next Chapter. Nowif theKing ~— jf mutt be one fo and fo qualified, it plainly intimates, that there was no | fich Title to the Government as Birth-right, For, if the EldeftSonof ss | a King were not fo qualified, the People could not {et him over them, | without difobeying the Law of Godse eae. “nebulae tes __ Again, The Law layes: conditions of Government upon the King, (-11.) fi) mn ‘ es upon the obfervation whereof, i and his Children are to prolong their . dayesin the Kingdom, He muft not muluply Horfes to himfelf, nor Wives, nor greatly multiply ‘Silver and Gold. He muft read in the Law of God all the dayes of his life, that he may learn to fear God and keep all his Statutes; and he muft not lift up his heart above his Bre- thren, nor turn afide from Gods Commandement to the right hand or _ the left and if he and his children did thus, they were to.continuein - the Kingdom. But now fuppofe a King and his Children will multiply — a ‘Horles, Silver and Gold to themfelves, and lay unreafonable Taxes on ~~ the People to maintain their pride and luxury, live in the prefumptuous - ——swiolation of the Law of God, and lift up their hearts above their Bre-" thren, lord and domineer over them, and break all the conditions:of Government ; Were the People bound to accept of the Eldeft Son of the — | King to fucceed his Father in the Throne ? No fuch thing. They break- ing the Conditions of Government forfeit their Right, andthe People - might lawfulllyfet another over them, as they didwhen Rehoboam pre- -f{umpttoufly re jeéted the Law of God, and would not eafe them of their Burdens, 1 Kings, 12. 16. choofing Feroboam in his ftead. : ck pe fpecial atant that God made of the Kingdom to David, atid his Seed, doth notin the lealt favour this Hereditary Title, For, * 4° The Promife was not that the Kingdom fhould defeend to his Po- Rerity, in an Hereditary manner, that the Eldeft Son fhould fucceed the; ‘Father in the Throne; if any of Davids Sons were made King by the - People, it was as much as God had promifed David,or the People were bound to. For neither did the Law of God, nor the grant made to Da- _. wid oblige the People to the Eldeft Son; and therefore we read that -. Solomon {ucceeded David in the Throne, a younger Brother to Adomsjah, - but a wiferman,and no queftion upon that account preferred before him, ‘“andpromotedtothe Kingdom. | © 2, That Deed of Gift made to David and his Seed, was not abfokite _._ but conditional; upon condition that they kept the Law of God and ex- —ecuted his judgements, they were to continue in the Throne, 1 King. — 6, 12, ——~ 1 King, 8, 25. 1 King. 2. 3, 4. But when Solo- °, mon and Rehoboam his Son had violated the Conditions of Government, _ the People caft off Kehoboams yoke from their fhoulders ; and good rea- ‘fon, for they were bound to him and his Seed only upon condition they ~ obferved the Law of God; and therefore by his rebellion again(t God, and refolution to tyrannize over them, they had a jut difeharge from fubjection to himand his Heirs, And a Nation.can oblige themfelves f> to any man and his pefterity, no otherwifé than conditionally upon con- | dition they obferve the Law Of God and execute his Judgments : for to ~ make an abfolute Engagement to a Prince, to receive his eldeft Son,and. accordingly his Pofterity for their Gevernours, what kind of penfons fo- - ever they May prove, Were Contrary Co the Law of Nature, a giving away their own and pofterities Birthrights, and to the Law of God,. which requires qualifications in Governours, which will be more ful- dy cleared in the next Chapter. , aoe fe - Objedt. Bur we reade that Jehofhaphat whemhe died gave the Kindom sf: to Jehoram, becanfe he was the firf-born, 2Chton."21, 3. and the People — made Ahaziah.the youngeft on of Jehoram King in his fathers fread, for «the Band of menhad flan all theeldeft, 2 Chron.22.x, Doth not this prove that the firft-born, or eldeft fonof a King hath aright to the Crown afterhis | fathers deceafe ? foo an 7 9 © ie: eae aie — Siem Sol. Notatatall. For whereas it is faid Fehofhaphat gave him the ) Kingdom, ‘that implies that it was in his power to have chofen whe- : ther he would have given 1t him orno; and that Fehoram had not the © Kingdom by-inheritance, or of right, but, by. his fathers gift --and the | Meaning is this, Fehofhaphat, with the Peoples confent, beftowed the Kingdom upon fehoram his eldelt fon: for otherwife Febr/haphat had no power, either. by the Law of God or Nature, to give the Kingdom of Ifrael; But F ebo(haphat being fuch a holy man and good Governoury had won the Peoples affeStions fomuch, that they were contented to _ ~ grant his defire that his eideft fon (hould fucceed him, For if fehofha- phat fhould have given away the. Kingdom without the Peoples con- fent, it had been wickedly andinjuftly done , and therefore I dare not | entertain fuch a thought of good Feb ifhaphat. a ee “© The other Inftance is as void of proof. For if it thould be granted, that if the eldeft Son had been living, or any of the elder Brethren, the People would have made the. eldeft King ; yet it doth not fellow they - were bound todo fo, or that it was the birthright of the eldeft Son to fucceed his Father. ‘ Ivis poffible that the People might in an ordinary way fet up the eldeft Son in his Father’s room, becaufe ufually the-el- deit might be fuppofed to be the fitteft for it, as having moft knowledge — and experience ; and the Father commonly ‘hath the greateft love for his elde@ Son, and would improve his intereft in the Judges, Ru- fers and Officers, a8 wellas the People, for his eldeft Son’s fucceilions, and for other reafons; but it will not follow. hence that it was the Birthright of the eldeft Son. “And yet Ido not remember that the Serip=__ sure doth mention above one example of the eldeft Son's fucceeding the. . Father among all the Seed of Dawid that fate upon the Throne, — rhe 4 a { was Jchoram-above mentioned, and he had the Kingdom by gift, not in his own right, And we find Solomon, a ygunger.Brother, fucceeding his Fathers, and Abijah, who fucceeded Rehoboam, feems to bea younger _ Brother, for the Scripture mentions elder fons that Rehoboam had by another wife, 2-Chron,t1. 19,20. but Rehoboam loved Maacah, Abi- | jab’s mother, more than all his wives, and therefore improved hisin= tereft tomakehim King. You fee then, notwithfanding thefe Obje- ctions, that the People have an undoubted right of making their Go- vernours according to the Law of God; and that there is no juft or rightful title to the Government of Nations, without the confent of the People. > | =. | oy. See ted —s } > a ; oa - % COD 0 IN gee Re a OS al . Treating of the Qualifications of Magiftrates, evincing by the Light of . Reafon, Law of God, End of Goverument, and other Arguments, that _ the People are bound to chufe {ach as are endued with the Spirit of Go- - wernment, wife and faithful mex, fearing God, and hating Coveton{- nels, to.be Governours over them, | -. — ¥ Have fhewn you inthe laftChapter, that by the Law of God and & Nature, the People have an unqueftionable tight of making theis Governours both fupream and fubordinate ; lintend by the Lord’s af- fiftance in this Chapter, to make it clear, That the People are bound to chufe men endued with the Spirit of Government thereunto. op _ £, Then, from the Light of Nature it is evident, that fuch only fhould be intrufted with the Government, as are endued with the Spj- wit of Government. Doth not Reafon it {elf teach men in all their pris vate concernments to entruft the managing thereof with perfons fitly ~ gqualihed ? what wife man would commit the government of his Fa- -muly to an imprudent or unfaithful Steward ? the education of his Chil- dren to an ignorant or negligent Schoolmafter ? the government of his Workmen in any kind of Manufacture, to one that wants difcretion or — honefty? the care of a Flock of Sheep, to a.carelefs or unskilful Shep- herd? or-put bis Son Apprentice, to a Mafter that neither undeiftands snorregards his Trade ?. Es : ae Hath Nature taughtus to be fo cautious in thefe lefler concernments, and carelefs of the greater? tointruft none but fuch as are able and faithful with any matters of lefler moment, and to commit our Laws, Lives, Liberties, Relations, Eftates and good-names to the truft of {uch, vb | se 5 Of whofe ability and integrity we have” ‘no evidence AML this 48 conti iinet to the Magiftrate. ~ Ys anegligent and carele(s perfor hate to Govern a’ fev Boyes in'a School; and yet {uch a one fit'to governa Nation, whofe number is as the fand:of the Sea? Isa faithlefs, prodig gal, and difhione man: unwor- thy to be madea Steward of one Family, andiyet fuch aone fic to make. a Steward for three’Nations ? Is one that makes-no confcience'of hig word, unfit to be trufted with the care of 4 flock of Sheep; and’yetfuch — a one ‘fit co be trufted with the care of the Laws, Lives, Liberties, Eftates: and Concernments-of many millions of’ Men? Isa carelefs; faithlets, deboift:perfon, unfit to gdvern two or three Apprentices, and’yet fuch a one fit to govern Towns, Cities, Countries, yea, populous Nations: themfelves? I appealto any man, who Asch but the leaft fpark of: Rea | fonin him, whether this-be not highly irrational 2 And yet alas, how-few are there to be found, among: the mirttitude: | 6f men that inhabit this-Nation, wno are half % careful of the weighs- tier matters of Publick’ Concermment,as OF. the Aaifes Aoasld and Comin _of their private affairs!” Much like to.a company of Paffengers: sh are going to Sea, every one looks after his own Goeds to fecitre themfrom dammage,, but little ~yegard what Pilot and Mariners they;have ; but when: they. are upon the | Sea, woful expertence convinceth them of their folly.” Their Pilot is - ’tis-high time fo ewes Thy Pifot and Mariners. eat, drink and make merry with thy fadding, and have no. regard to thee ; the winds blow, the waves baat, . the ftorm encreafés,. thy Tackling is ead: thy Compals falfe, thou art-very.near the Rocks or Sands ; and funtefsthe Lord in mercy look upon thee, thou wiltbe fds denly fplit orfunk, If ever the Lord bring thee fafe to harbour agains. be wifer for time tocome, make. choice. ofa. betters Pilot and Mariners: for thy next Voyage. But let us fee what Inftances we can ae teh thie very Hiabions- _themfelves, who have acknowledged this, That men enducd with the S Phaxash | ie of Government:are.to-be chofen thereunto, - ie ae ee ee eel Fine dd ae Ce I ain sn whone the Spirit of God w ? F orafmuch as there 1 none [o wife and difcreet ee a Re a ee ae ne ey eee nt - . ne eee wee erg is id : 2 Lacie SANS SE Sema RS ei RSS BS Renal PDUs Ri OL PRETO essere - * f ~ es ee ae bshe i Pharoah couldfay this of Fofeph, Can we find fuch a ont as this 6, aman as thou art, thou fhalt be over mine boule, and according to thy word (hall all my people be ruled, Gen. 41.38, to 4x. Mark here, what the Light of Nature and Reafon dictates to a Heathen. 4, Thatthere areno men fo fit, for Government as thofe in whom - the Spirit of God is. 2. That the ‘wilelt and difcreeteft men, and fuch as have the Spirit _ of God,. ought to.be preferred to places of the higheft Authority. 3. That Magiftrates are not to be chofen by their Honours or Riches bur by their Vertues; not fuchas have empty Titles of Kuighrs, Lords, Dukes or the like, and a bafe ignoble {pirit under it; but fuch as are wife, difereet, and have the Spirit of Godin them. No queftion but Pharoah had Noblemen and Rich men.enough to have preferred to that ‘ place,-buatthe Light of Nature convinced him, that Fofeph was fitter. - than all they. | a ) 4a0That lownefs.of condition, as to worldly things, is no jut bar to hinder a wife difcreet_man, in whomrhe Spirit of God is, from the ereateft truftin Government, fofeph wasa flave, fold into Egypr, after _ that a prifonercaft into a Dungeon, and yet forall this, the very Hea- ~ thens prefer this man above all the Nod/emen in the Land, | » Object. It will be objehed, The was an extraordinary cafe s Jofeph had skilin interpreting Dreams; there was an eminent Charatter fet upon him by . God, enough to convince any max that he was the fitteft manforthattruf. . Sol. | The reafon why Fofeph was advanced to that great Truft, was not - barely for his Interpretation of the, Dream, but for the wife Counfel he gave thereupon : the Lord had not only fhewed him the Dream, bue - the way how topreferve the Land ; the Counfel he gave, was tational and difcreet,.and pleafed Pharoah and all his Servants, ver.37. and becaufe he was a wile and difcreet Counfellor, able to govern the Land - better than any that wasin it, therefore they chofe him : Fo/ephs skill In interpreting Dreams , would not have fitted hint for the Govern ~ ment of Egypt, withouta Spirit of Counfel and Prudence to manage the - weiohty Affairs thereof. One gift doth not fit a man for every Funéti- on. Pharoah by conference with him, found him to bea wife and dif. _creet Counfellor, and therefore exalted him. Darias (though a Heathen) preferred Damel above all the Prefidents and Princes of the Emptre, becaufe he hada more excellent Spirit than : they, 'Dan.6.3. the Light of Nature taught him,that dignity was the jutt reward of Virtue ; no queftion but he had many thoufands in his Deo- munions who excelled Daniel in greatnefs and iiches ;* but Daniel excel]. * eee (Cy : led them in Wifdom and Goodnefs ; Daniels Wifdom and Underftan- ing , out-weighed all their Titles and Treafures, and was of more ad- ‘vantage to the Empire, So that let a very Heathen be Judge, and he: will tell yowthat thofe who have the mof excellent Spirits, fhould be advanced to the higheft Trufts in Government. - ob ela cag Another Inftaneis that of eArtaxerxes, another Heathen, who com miffionates Exra to make fuchas knew the Law of God, Rulers over all the People beyond the River, Ezra 7:25. Oh what (hame doth this {peak to England ! where Men that are ignorant of, yea that hate the Law of God, are every where made Relers over others. or ae ; The word Kzow (there-ufed) is a Wotd of fenfe, and fignifies an af fedtionate Knowledge, fuch a Knowledge asis accompanied with Loves. it is a comprehenfive Word ; itis as much as if he fhould have faid, Ic is my refolution to have: the Law of thy God obferved; I know thee to “be a man full of Wifdom, Zeal, and Faithfulnefs,to God and thyCouns _ try, and therefore I commit this weighty Affair tothee; look out fuck : men as have underftanding in, loveto, and zeal for the Law of thy. God, and make them Rulers over the People beyond the River, In like manner Jethro, Prieft (orewather Prince of Adidian (for the word fignifies both) advifeth Adofes to provide out of all the People, able Men, {uch as fear God, Men of truth, and hating Covetoufnefs ( four neceffary Qualifications) and make them Rulers over the People... I do not find any ground from the Text,to conceive that Fethro gave this ~ Counfel to AZofes by any fpecial Revelation,but beinga wife andunder=- - ftanding man, he gave fuch Counfel, as Reafonit felf diG@atestoall = mien ; which will appear plainly, if we weigh thofe Qualifications Fe- | _ . thforfentions in the Ballance of Reafon. Se ae pe For doth not Reafon tellus, That men who are not able for anem- ployment, are not to be entrufted with ic? That men of falfhood, who =< | make no confcience of their word or promife, are unworthy of theGo- | vernment of others? That covetous, private-{pirited men, who love J money, and make haft to be rich, are not fit.to.be trufted with the exe-: | ~ cution of Juftice ? is it likely that fuch men will faithfully ferve God j and their Country, whofe ‘hearts run after Covetoufnefs ?, And if ite” | light of Nature teach us that there isa God, ittellsusthatHeistobe- =| feared ; and that Magiffrates, who are to govern others, fhouldinan ‘| efpecial manner be fuch as fear God themfelves: For if Wdagiffrates - | have no fear of God, what opportunity have they to difeounrenance .- | Virtue, and encourage Vice, and fo bring down the wrath of God ups _ én the Land? — fs | ae ped so iiter ee -Thetefore Plato writes for a oes which ke calls, aaa e ion | | thac- * Pas A “ ee AP 5 new ag eS eee — alt ee et RR Renate ai Te. OS eee ieee & = fete Rs a a ee Ri Re eR Rae aa aR Ae Zt A a Sil «FE ap a es Ree , . : > ‘ 4 (sh )7. * men beartule, 9+ ++ bE hos Ee oS RE SES Gr . Nu fee then how’ the Light of Nature and Reafon doth inftru@ us to chufe the wifeft and belt.men for Governours ; and may not men be: “athamed and blufhjto call themfelves Chriftians,who are in practice be- f ~~ low Heathens, ¥ 5 :Oh my native Country! what Lamentation (hall I'take.up-for thee ?- how are thy Foundations ouw of courfe? how:are thou fallen from the. ‘ aaa | thatis, “fuch’a fort of Government where the bet men are made Go.) | __- vernours’s and that muft needs be the beft Government where the beft. Light of Nature, and Principles of Reafon it felf? Whois that Man . _ thou 'canft prodace among: thy Adagiffrates and Rulers, that may indeed bz juftly calleda Man of Truth, and fearing;God ? Where is that exe: — ellent Spirit of true Wifdom and: Underftanding: to be found among: thy Leaders? Are fuch as have the, Spirit of God andtrue Difcretion,, advanced to the Government? Isit not now become a: rime fuficient ‘to depofe a‘Governour,to be.a man that feareth God ?- : | O letitnor be told in Egypt, nor publithed in the ftreets- of ALedsa,. . that Exgland turns men,out of Government, becaufe the Spirit of Ged _is in them, and ‘they do excelin Virtue ; letnot:the Prince of ALedian here how. Ferhro’s Counfel is rejeted, and men: that have no wifdom tiuth,: orfear of God, made-Rulers of the, Land. Repent in time of thy tranfgreffion of the very Law: of Nature, while thou doft profefs. the Gofpel, left Pharozh, Plato, and Darins, with all the wifett of the | Heathens,rife up in judgement, and condemn:thee ; for they have judg- _ ed the beft of men, and fuch asdidexcelin Virtue, worthy of greatefh Exaltation ; but thou.in midft of Gofpel-Light, Jadeft them with-re« _ proach and fcorn, and the wicked walk.on every fide-while the vileit _ - men are exalted: i Os | Gigs Roar Yea | ss ».2, Itbeing evident from the Light of Reafon,that men tightly qua- — ‘Hified with the Spiritof Government, are only fir to be entrufted-with: | _ itLet usenquire what the Law of God faith to this pointyand certainly ~ | _ we fhall find, that theyLaw of Nature andoScripture do.moft exactly: agree as well in this.as other things, > “ 2° The firtt Scripture I: fhallmention, is Dest. uz. TAs toend, where: _ there are feveralQualifications required in him whom the Pedple were | to make King, ‘either exprefly or implicitely.. ~, He molt be a Brother .~ which word is of a large extent, for it ims_ \ Ports one “of their own Country andoReligion; they were nor to fet’ aftranger overthem, that isa ranger in ether for the People of J/=. _ vael were Brethren, not only by Nation, but Religion, andit enjoyned: them to fet one over themwho was.a‘member of the Church. ef God 5. ee a Se ae ot ee and without doube that was the principal reafon for which this Rafe way given, leftif they fhould have fet any of the Idolatrous Kings of the Nations over them, he fhould draw them to Idolatry: And furely it. layes an Obligation upon Chriftians and, Proteftants, ‘to fet one of their Brethren over them, not one who will bring in Popery, Superflition, and Idolatry into the Land. 2. The Lord tells the People, “that the King whom they were to . make, fhould write a copy of his Law, and read therein all the dayes of ‘his life, that he might learn to fear the Lord; which doth manifeftly - infru& the People, to fet ohe over them who was capable of perform- ing thofe Duties, and refolved to obey the Command of God; for if the King mult read allhis dayes in the Law of God, and learn to keep all his Statutes; would not. common Reafon infer this, that the People who were to make a King, fhould not make an ignorant perfon that were uns able, or a profane perfon,that were unwilling to ftudy the Law of God? \ Indeed all the other duties which the Lord acquaints the People with — beforehand, were fo many directions for them to fet up one qualified for thofe duties » for if the King was not to multiply Silver or Gold to. himfelf, furely this inftructed-the People not to make a covetous perfon King ; if the Kiag muftnot lift up himfelf above his Brethren, ittaught ~ them to make a humble, tender-hearted man King, nota proud demi- neering perfom, who-would lord it over the Lord’s Heritage, -and en+ flave them : and fo may be faid of all the other ‘duties of the King ; each duty of the King, is a dire@tion to the People, to conftitute one qualifte - ed for it, Object. But the Law. was given to Ifrael, how doth it appear it binds other Nations? . Sol, By the nature of the Lawit is moral, and fo univerfal, and perpetual. There are indeed one or two Particulars that were peculiar to the Fewifh State. Firf?, They muit fet one oyer them whom the Lord | hould chufe, which implieed that God intends out of his efpecial grace _ -and favour to them (as his Church) to chufe the man himfelf for thenmr -fometimes, yét they weretomake him King: but God doth not fo for ~ other Nations,but hath leftus to chufe for our felves, according to the Light of Reafon and Scripture. Again, their King was not to fend the — People to Egypt, bzcaule the Lord had forbid the People of Ifrael to res turn thither any more ; which our King may do upon a juft occafion ; ‘but the fubftance of the Law is of a moral nature, and obligeth all Kings and People whatfoever, ‘That the King fhould not multiply Sil+ ver, Gold, Wives, or Horfes to himfelf, and thereby impoverith the People,and fuffer his heart go:be drawn from-God ; that he thould have aan . DA | 2 SOY / Zé J i 2 de baie “Ze . fale ee ~~ .acopyof the Law-of God, and read therein all the dayes of his life; -. Jearn to fear God,.and keep his Statutes, and not lift.up his heart above his Brethren, is all Moral, .and doth oblige other Kings as well as the Kings of rach. pre ere a ee en. 4 _ That a People profefling the true Religion, fhould not fet over them: |. one of a ftrange Religion,to bring in Idolatry and Falfe-worthip (which jouw, Was the intent of that claufe, Thoufhalt.wor fet a ftranger over thee) That |... they fhould,take care to fet.up a maninthe Throne, whois.able and | © willing.to perform: the Duties God requires of a King, is all Moral, and obligeth. the People of Exgland, as muctfas. it did the People of i/— MS a ey eR Ses ik 3 . | - The next Scripture I fhall produce for confirmation of this Truth, is 2 Sam. 23. 34. The God of Ifrael faid, the Rock of Lfrael fpake tome, He that raleth over men, mujt be juft, ruling sw the fear of God, You fee heres. the Rock of Ifrael hath appointed two great Qualifications in thofe that rule over men; Fuffice, and the Fear of God, — 3 _ Objekt: Thefe places fhew onlythe Magiftrates duty, not any Qualifica» tions neceffarytothe Office of aMagiftrate; this proves that Magiftrates are bound to. obferve thofe duties, not that the People are bound tochufe none but fuch mer. as are juft, and fear God, to.be Governours, | Sol, The very fame Sophiftry do-the wicked and: fcandalous. Priefts: ufe to.cheat the poor People withal, -and lull them: afleep, that they may _ make aprey- of them in the mean while. Ms - The Lord fayes, 1 Tim,3. ABifbop or Overfeer ( for fo the word is _- anthe Greek) suff beblamelefs, vigilant, fober, of good behaviont , aptto» | beach, not greedy of filthy lucre, not giventoWine, no ftricker, but patient, | | not abrawler, nor covetons. The Prieftis a proud, covetous,. drunken, deboiftiperfon, and the poor People muft be compelled to.own him for- . @Minifter of Chrift, who hath never a Qualification of a true Minifter. _.. ¥ahinv: if they complain,we cannot own him for a true Minifter 32 Mie. | nifter muft be thus and thus qualified, he is the contrary’; they are an- | fwered, O thofe are indeed the Duties of a Minifter, but not the Quas lifications neceflary to. the Being of a Minifter; amanmaybeatiue. _ Minifterif he be ordained, though he walk contrary: to thefe Duties, and you are bound to own his Miniftry neverthelefs, becaufe: it is an- Ordinance of God, ee : ) | 2 _ . Soin this.cafe we cannot deny, fay they, but a Magiftrate thould’be | _ fult,ruling in the fear of God, it’s his.duty fo to-do: but what if he beun-. _ juft, and caft. away the fear of God, he-is.a true Magiftrate notwith= _ ftanding, and you are bound in Confcience to own his Authority asthe - @adinance of God. By this-kind. of Sophigry the Devil maintains hig: a ge ae ‘ - 2 : | Kingdom. 7 Kingdom, and the: Beaf and Falfe-Prophet theirs} to'theutterwaives 9 the Bodies andSoulsof men, °° SH EtE (Bie 2% Thefe are the two grand Cheats wherewith the World is-abufed, by: wicked and unworthy perfons, pretending to Authority from God, togo. vern both Church and Scate, when they are utterly defticute of thofe Qualifications God hath laid down for the election of perfons into thofe. Offices: and indeed itis-hard to fay, which is the oreater cheat of the two.Bleffed be God many difcern the Chear of an rgzorant, proud,covetons and prophane Minifiry, and will notown it for an Ordinance of God, i doubt not, through God’s afliftance, to make it evident tothe World;that. 2 wicked, tyrannous,and oppreffing Magiftracy,is no more Gods Ordinance. than the other; and thac the People are bound. to reje@-both; and fet _ up able men, “Men of Truth, fearing God, and hating covetoufnefs, im the Magiltracy as well as Miniftry : and that all who are not thus quae. lified, are but meer Counterfeits and Pretenders. s =e - For whereas thefe men pretend, that the Characters which the Scrip tures give of trueMagiltrates and Minifters,do only fhew their duty,not: any Qualifications that are neceflary tothe conftitution of thems itisa _ meer falfity. For the Spirie of God hath om purpote laid down Chara- . Gers of a true Magiftracy and Miniftry, that the People who have the. oe Power of eledting both, put into their hands by God, fhould not fuffer his Ordinances to be prophaned, but chufe Men after his heart for both: - fun@tions of Magiltracy and Miniftry. The Apoltle commands: ¥ its to ordain Elders-in every City (chat. je: Minifters) but upon this: condition, that there were any to: be found. that were qualified according to the mind of God, Zitus 1.5, to 8. and: fayes down feveral Characters to fignifie what Qualifications Ged re~ -quiredin Minifters. : | ee ~ If any be blamele{s, 8c. and fo goes on. with many Qualifications which» you may read there ; and whereas the Apoftle bids 7t#sordain Elders». he doth not mean Titws fingly, but joyntly, with the ‘confent obahe Church; as is intimated inthat claufe, As Lhave appointed thee.. Now: the Apottle would-rfot appoint 71r#s to do otherwife than he himfelf did: and the reft of the Apoftles-; but itis plain that the People-chofe their Officers, Aéts 6. 3, and s-vertes , the whole multitude chofe Srephen® and the reft. So Adds 14.23. When they bad ordained : hens:Elders in eves xy Church, "tis In your Tranflation ; but learned Beza renders it thus. Communibus fufftagis creames ets Pre sbyceros ;: they, made: them El ders: Cox Minifters) by common fuffrage or confent, the multitude gave their: votes and chofe them, and then the Apoftles confirmed them by Bata. ing and Prayer ;: but t Se his by the way. However they.wereto bemade,. | - yet not without Miffifterial Qu alifications 5 Titus andthe People toges ther had no power to make an ignorant or {candalous man a Muinifter.of \ Chrift. - ce Matis ey eis) power. 1 pate OHS, s | : . The'very fame doth the Scripture hold forth concerning+Magiftrates,, - ‘that the People are to look out Men rightly qualified withmagiftratical. - Endowments, forthe Office of Magiftracy, = = _ When A4ofes-put that prudent Gounfel of Ferhro in execntion, accor- ding to the mind of God, he bids the People lookout fuch men as were fpirited for Government, Deat.1.13. Take ye wifeAen, and underfianding, and known among your Tribes, it is tranflated; but Ifuppofe it might have been better rendered: . ys oe Eee > 3. Take ye wife men, momonwe Sapientes, this word is ufed fre- quently for the beit fort of Wifdom, true {piritual Wifdom, faving Know. — ledge, Prov.3 3.20. Prov.t0.8. Pfal,i9.7. The Teftimonies of the Lord wake wile the fimple. , Afofes bid the People look out men that.under- ftood the Law of God, that was the Wifdom he bid them have aneye. to; evenas Artaxerxes bid Exra (as I have thewn before.) That which, —— Fethro called the Fear of God, Mofes calls Wifdom ; and no wonder, for. that is the only true Wifdom, Job 28.28. Pfal.111.10. Prov. 7. Ivis as. fhe fhould have faid, My Father-in-law, Fethro, gave me Sood Coun= fel, I give the fame to you, Look outfuch Men as are truly wife, that fear God; they will make con{cience of their Duty to God and you ; but if you chufe men void of that erueWifdoms, the Fear of God, they will have little or no regard to the Honour of& God, or your Good, > : 2, Men of Underflanding, 02229 et prudentes, prudent Men; Men of | Counfel, as fer.49.7. Ls Counfel-perifbed fromthe Prudent 2.1 Sam.16.. 18, David is {aid tobe a man prudent in matters; in both thefe places / there is the {ame word that is mentioned byeA4o/es ; and generally this a word is taken for a wife Counfellor. So that Mofes bids the People chofe. _ fuch men for Magiftrates as were prudent Counfellors, Every wife man, . . -orevery one that fears God,isnot fit tobea Magiftrate, he muft be a prit | dent Map alfo, one that is able to advife in matters of weight and Cons « ; - cemment, relating to, the publick Affairs of the Land, Whey eee | | ry 23+ Known Men, evn that is, men that have been tryed, that. have . $iven proof of their Integrity and Uprightnefs, that are known to be. _ true and cordial to the Service of God, and their Generation + for the Word 1s taken for experienced, J/4, 5 3. 3. Aman acquainted with grief 5 thatis,.one that hath beem tryed. and experienced in it.e So that ALo[es "directs the People: to look out fich men who had been tryed, andwere, Known tobe faichful, publick-fpirited, felf-denying partons: fuch ag Caleb and Fofbna, who had followed the Lord fully in an hour of temp-,. | ff ee » * ed i 3 a : 4 tailor, : gation, and adventured'their lives for the Peoples godd. Thefe are-the . Moen that are fit to be Rulersover the People, that willadventure their All for the People. Ulyffes was a man tryed, the Grecians had had large experience of his Wifdom/and Faithfulnefs to them, and therefore they honoured hen. <9 sean ct © Fees, okies Oe —-Fofeph gives the like counfel to Pharach, Gen, 43. 33. Let Ph wie fook out a maw difcreet and wife, and fet him over the Land, vanipiawr _ Virum prudentems & fapientem ; the very fame words that Mofes ules-¥ and indeed the fam@Countel that AZo/fes by the Spirit of God gave the ~ Ifraelites ; did Foferh by the fame Spirit gave the E gyptians,and they took his Counfel, The thing pleafed Pharaoh and. all bus Servants, Vetl. 37- They liked his Counfel well, and becaufe they could find none that had fo much true Wifdom and Prudence together as he had, Pharaoh fectins overtbe Land. ~~ | 3 - Thus Nehemiah fet Hananiah over Ferufalem becaufe he was 4. faith fal man and feared God above many,. Nehem. 7. 2. and Chap. 23.13, _- He fet Shelemiah, Zaiok, and Pedajah over the Treafunes , and Hanan next to them, becaufe they were accounted f¥ichful men. es Thus you fee how the Law of God requires the People to look out men that areendowed with the fpirit of Government,and to makethem Rulers, and what Prefidents the Word of God hath Jeft us of the fame. © therefore beware you that are Teachers of others, that through ' ‘your owrrignorance of the Law of God; or\flavith fear.of wicked Ru- ders, ora bafe love of filthy Iucre, you donot caule the People to ftum- ble in. the Law of Ged ; left he make you bafe and contemptible before. ‘all the People, becaufe ye have. be 2°85 9 SE A ae eo The God of Ifrael hathfaid, Fe that oleh ever men muft be jooft ruling: | inthe fear of God, Hethat hath faid, 4 Adiniffer muft be blamelefs, fober 5 vof good behaviour, 8c. 1 Jim. 3. Hathfaid; A Magistrate muff be jxft,, ‘ruling ta the fear of God, 2 Sam. 23. 3, And will you fay that a wicked. Minifter or Magittrate is:God’s Ordinance? Take heed of being parti-- alfinwhe kaw = fae Po ae 3, Having thewed you-how the Light of Reafon and Law of God do» ‘concur, inthe confirmation of this Truth, T/ap none by fuch as areen -dusd with tine Spirit of Government fhould be- entruffed with se. 1 come to. -another Argument drawn from the End of Government. * Every Means fhould be adequate to: its End, fuch. as‘may be: effe@ual,to accomplifh the End it was. appeinted for. “The End for which Magiftrates were made,-was > The Glory of God,, and Good. of the. People, Magiftrares are the Means for’ accom-- Le a ee | ee piifhings Sen, ég pattial in the Law,, cMal.- kid Mee pit ba! sey ts “Will fuch a one ever feck to Honour God in the Government, as hath alec cies RR a ak plifhing this end sand can it be conceived that perfons deftitute of Wildom, Pradence, Faithfulne fs, juftice, or the fear of God, are qualified ~entrufted with the execution thereof ?Is a Drunken Magiftrate a fitmean- “to reduce a People to Sobriety? A Profane Magiftrate a mean to.en- courage Piety? When experience daily confirms the Truth of that, _ Perhdioufnefs of thefe Governours will be a.warning to the People to ning, my Word of Confolation, Commination , or Inftitution of mine / \ for this End? no Love tohim, or Fear of him? to encourage Virtue, who is himfelfa Slave to Vice 2 Will fuch a one feek the Peoples Good who regards not his own? Is one that knows-not, yea that hates the Law of God, fit to be Regis ad exemplum, totus componitur Orbe; = : ~ The whole World follow the Example of their King 2 Is a Perfidious perfon who makes light of the violation of his Faith, @ mean to promote Truth and Honefty? if itbe, itis per accidens, through _7 the goodnefs of God, who brings good out of evil; andfol hopethe — 4 a choofe more Faithful Confcientious Men for time tocome. 7 . The Heathens could f a¥, Deus & Natura nil facinnt frufiras God and. ¥ ‘Nature make nothing in vain : But that accurfed Opinion, That a Wick- } ed (Magiftrate is Gods Ordinance,under a pretence and vizard.of Peace - | and Quietnefs,doth even fly in the face of God himfelf,and charge him with fetting up fo great amOrdinance over all mankind, whichisbuta vain thing:For certainly that is in vain which is not able toaccomplifh | its End; fo that to calla wicked Magiftrate God's Ordinance, is to re-- : proach our Maker. a | | a st ic My Word, { faith the Lor) hall not return unto me void, but [ball accomplifh that which I pleafe, ant profper inthe thing whereunto I fent it, ] Ifa. 55. 11. Word, is nothere to be retrained to the Word Preached, 4 butis taken inalarge fence; my Word of Command, Promife Threat-— i Ordinances, it fhall all profper in the thing whereto I feat it. I appoint nothing that 1 not fufficient for sts End. Now the End of that Inftitution q of Magiltracy, being the Glory of God, and Good, of the People, in the praife | of them that do well, and punifhment of thofe that do evil. A vile perfonis : nomore amean for it, than a profane perfon is a mean for bringing | Glory to God, and doing Good to the Peopleinthe Miniftry, =~ | V4 Objet. But may not a wicked Miniter or fooner ?A Bool & Caward may poilibly doa piece of good ferviceonce, but is hetherefore fir tobemadea Leader? ‘It is. altogether as abfurd. to. afiim, That 4 wicked.or unworthy. per{oy fhould be made aMdagiftrate,: . 2, But where there isone wicked Magiltrate. that deth. good for the “People, there ate twenty do mitchief. That now. and then\a wicked, Magiftrate doth good for thePeople may bewritten among Wonders and Prodigies, not to periwade us to. choofe-fucha ene again, but.to-admire® and adore the Wifdom. and Goodnets of God, Who brings good outo£ = evil, and makes wicked men fomerimes. become ferviceable to,him. and, his people, contrary to their own inclinations... 0 yf ow te ~ ~..3, Butif chere be any, wicked Maeiftrate who poilibly dot fome goods, yet he*doth:a great deal.more hurt, the evil outweighs the 20¢ d, 3 ig ; 7 “sq, Ina word, That.which makes any thing a Mean,is the properbon dentally in the Magiftracy, or may have some property. or other com. mendable, is not adequate tothe End of Government. Nero, Vitelstssy Caligula, theverieft Monfters inthe World, had {ome properties laudi- ble ; Yea the Devil himfelf hath fomething of good; he hath Know- -Fedge, and Faith, and other things good in themielves; but a wicked man wants thofe qualifications, of rrue. Wifdom, Faithfulnefs. and the zeax of God, which might render him fit for accomplifhing the End for ~ Otherefore, if you have.any zeal for the Honour of God, fhew it by ftanding-up for thofe to. be made Governours, who. trulyfear his holy Wame, and. will be careful of his glory... - Ory do-you with Z ‘ rity? i oe e yoursV.ote.again for wicked Men to Rule the Land. You will acknowledge, thatit is your duty in your places to promote the Glory of God,.and Good of the Land-of your Nativity; yea.who 1s ‘there that will notfay, Such a san that mould tor be willing to do this, _ were anworthytolive? You fee the Means forthefe Ends, "us by ad~ “nefs, tothe Covernment.. Refolve if ever. th vancing Wife and Faithful Men, that Feat God,. and Hate Covetouf- portunity to choofe Governours again, to.look out men fo qualified that may an{wer the Ends of Magiftracy...Never folter up your felves . 4 oa = | sg = ( E » Jeo : ; ¢ : fon . aD». a a your,Own, your-Childrens, orthe Nations Profpe- — Lotd afford you .amop- ‘ee A $ BR : em Sad conceits; that you fhall'gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thiftles , that wicked Magiftrates will ever promote thofe glorious ends of God’s Bo See ie ete ga ee ma ReER < aii “4. “A fourth Argument to evince the truth of this, That'none but | fuch’as'aré'endued with the Spirit of Government, are to be: intrufted™ | . with it, ‘Ts, : If the fetting up men void of wifdom, faithfulne[s, and the fear of God, ix the Government, be the way torenatl wicked Laws ; Then {uch as are deftie ‘ute of thofe qualifications are not to be fet up, But the former Us trues therefore the latter, = 3 | That wicked Magittrates will one way or other, by force or fraud, or both, get wicked Statutes to be made, is evident by the Scripture, Hilto~" “gy; and the Chronicles of all Natiohs. Thus the Lord complains of the wicked Kings of I/rael, Ezek. 43.7, 8. that they prophaned his holy Name, by fetting their pofts by bw pofts, and their thre{holds by his thre- folds, and the wall between him and them: and when once wicked Sia- tutes are enacted, woful experience hath taught the world how hard ir sto gerthem repealed. The Lord complains how the Sratutes of Omrs a Some call ita Leafe of Life, becaufe . it istoo grofs a thing to fayaPardox for Marderin plain terms, sified i frequen) have I feen that faying of the Philolopher exem- plified in this Nation! The great Thieves lead the leffer thieves to hangs yog. Publick Thieves. who cheat the whole Nation of their Liberties, Eltates, Birth-rights, and Goipel-priviledges, under the titles of Fudges. and Fufiices, condemn and fentence to death {mall thieves, for ~ fuch faults as are not the hundredth part fo heinous as.their own? Andy _ yet the poor people believe the great Thieves are God’s Ordinance,and - worthy of allhonour, but the lefier thieves juftly put to death, Where. as indeed, if,Juftice had its courfe, there were more reafon why the little thieves fhould condemn andexecute the great Thieves. 9 » Foritis the Tyranny and Oppreffion of the Magutrates, whichis the, | principal caufe why there are fo many Thieves. in the Land, They lay: De ~ intolerable Taxations on the People,and bytheir Tyranny deftroyTrade, fo that thon {ands are conftrained to lay down theirCallings.for want of — werk; they make fuch-intricate, tedious, and‘chargeable Laws, that are more like Inftruments to pick the Peoples Pockets, than Rules.of Righteoufnefs ; invenced: by the {ubith Lawyers for Gins to catch the -Peoplein, where they keep men fo long as their money lafts, and then _ | - Jet them go; fo that (forthe moft part) it fares with thofe, thatfeek to” =, | ~ the Lawyers. and Witches for remedy, altke;.they never thrive after. _ By thefe and.many other Artifices: or Myfteries of stele, ihe nats rates rob, {poil and impoverifh the People; and reduce them to fuch neceflity, that while the Governours {pend their money in pride, luxu- ry and all manner of voluptuoufnels, they are forced to-beg or fteal 5 and many ( being afhamed to beg ) fall to flealing for the neceffity of their fouls, but fealing without authority, are brought before the com-. pany of Rulers, (who have-a Charter to (teal by Authority, and condemn. _ -all others who fteak without licenfe from them) and fencenced to death: By thofe, who mffch more deferve if than themfelves. | ; hig "But alas, it were endlefs to recite: the particular cafes, wherein thefe wicked Rulers violate the LawofGod ; for whereas the Law, hath. ap- pointed punifhment for evil-doers, and praife for them that do well,, _ whas do.thefe but the very contrary rs turning the Sword againit {uchag —— | B. °2. oo ie a, jean we is 45 fuck men as are endowed with the Spirit of Government, fhould be extrufied | e | oe , 7 feat God, and obty his Law. «So that wehaveguft caufe toplead with che Lord, as, Dauid did, Pfal. 119.1265 Up 1s time: forthee, O Lord,-te works for they have made vod thy Law. acer | Brethren, you cannot but acknowledge that the Law of God thould | ~ be put in execution, that.it is great caufe of damentation, yea and | holy indignation, to fee the Law of God thus violated: and what wife | man could expect any better from fuch Rulersias thefe 2? itis impoflible _| ~ the Law of God fhould be executed where wicked menareexalted? | -- Magiftrates are entrufted with the execution ofGod’s Law; and if | they do not underftand, or affect it, they will never executeit, | Artaxerxes (though a Heathen) {hewed more: wifdom and prudence}. ; ~~ ¢han many eminent Profeflors among us have fately done ;. for he would | have Ezra to make fuch men atknew the Law of God (that is, knewit “affeionately, as underftood and loved the LaW.of God) ALagiffrates and | | -Fadges over all the People beyond the River, Ezta 7,25. He knew thatic | Jet eee = was in vain to think of having the Law of God executed by ungodly Rube os ed. a wi) EE i aes The found of a great Name, and glittering fhew of phantas | ~ fical Apparel, is that which qualifies’ 2 manfor Government, in the judgement of the multitude, ’Tis not what Virtues, but what Titles a yee hath. When a hundred men better qualified for Magiftracy are paffed by, a Knight, or a Lord fhall be chofen for his Airy Titles fakes which is juft as if a man fhould refufe a Shield of Brafs, becaufe 1t were not finely painted, and cheofe a Paper Efcutcheon’ (bearing ome no- ble Armes) for his thield to defend him; for Magiftratesmare the Shields of the Earth, Pfal..47.9- vee O England, be not full fo"froward as to put away profperity from thy ~ fel€, by choofing fuch for thy Governouts as are void of thofe Qualificas “* sions which the Law of Nature and Scripture doth require. Never wilt thou enjoy a folid , lafting Peace, until thon embrace Righteout- nefs, Ifa. 32.16, to 19. Never will Righteoufnefs be executed; un- jefs righteous men be made Governours. If ever thou art Hea- . - Jed, thefe mult be thy Healers, If ever “tly Breaches be made up, be the Repairers. O.take that Counfel of Ferhro, Exod. 18. 21, Lookout from among thy People, able men, [uch as fear God, men of truth, hating covetoufne{s, and make them Rulers, If thou [halt do thw thing, then {hall all thy People ga to thesr place i Peace, Vert. 23. | fe Aa eee : Sit ree ; iz BC TRA Pa. 4 a 4 " Sg: : ei. * ve & he Treating of thé. Hagifrates relation, wherein #5 proved, bath by Strix a pture and Reafon, that Magiftrates from the higheft to the loweft, are - weer ' that Alffertion,an{wered,and.a few Inferences deduced. from fen aie Come to the Relation in which Magiltrates Qand tothe People, atdT § doubt. not through the Lords affiftance to make it manifeft, that the” . fond conceit which the flattering Lawyers andPrelates have infufed into the ienorant multitude, of the Sacrednefs and Unaccountablenefs. of the King,is altogether inconfiftent with his relation. And becaufe that — 13th Chapter of the Komans is fo much pleaded by the Advocates of Ty- + xanny,I fhall begin with that.. The Relation of the Magiftrate, is plain- ~ fy held forth by the Title which the Spirit of God gives him in that Chapter, and that is, 4’ Publick Servant, wheteas. it is tranflated Aine fier, in the plaineft term it is Servant, Rom. 13.4. 6. _ eee | --« ‘The word tranflated Ad:m/ter, verf. 4. is Sucnoves, and is derived from ‘Sidand xoyar, in pulvere defudare, It fignifies (faith Parews ) a painful and laborious fervice, like thofe that by hard travel raife the duft with their . «> feet. And as it fignifies a laborious, fo many times a low fervice in com- parifon of many others, Rows, 16. 1. Phebe a woman, is called Servant of the Church at Cenchrea. ‘The Women are. faid to. minifter unto Chrift;, and the company in the houfe, Aa. 8. 15.ALat.27. 55. So Fohu 13.2," «Martha ferved, that is, fhe waited at Table ; in all thefe. places; the - fame Word is ufed, and fionifies a mean fervice, and indeed the fervice — which-this word doth properly fignifie, is a Service inthe Diff. _ the Peoples Servants. Such Objettions as,may probably be made 2g aif o So that. that word imports a painful and humble Service. Theother word, ver.6, tranflated Adiniffers, fhould have-beentranflated, Publick | » Servants ; rerepyols itis derived from aires publicus, and epyov opass, | publick Workmen ox Servants, The Magiftrate hath his name not from: - Adfenefs, but parnfulne/s. The word is fometims applied toa meanfervice | " as 2. Sam.13.18. Ammons Sztvant: The Septuagest rendets it acwrepyds $y | and Jibricss in his Clavis Scriptnra,, fayes that the word doth moft pros | _ perly'fignifie a Service that is laborious, And it is applyed to Epa- , hia Phil.2.X5. @ Meflenger that carried the Churches. relief to: Atl, | se . cope ae ; ¢ ok ° ae ‘ a a | ' “how! Bs a te -- You fee then what a Magiftrate is by the Title TOT a oA gives him, 4 publick.and penfl raid Sage . Me pat _ pon ~ But the Queftion will be to whom is the Magiftrate Servant; none will deny but he is the Servant ° f God, but few underftand what he is to the People in general, and to themfelves in particular, as members ‘of the whole; know then, that he is a Servant Of God, and Tothee, | Ront.13.4. The Relation of the Magiftrate is in thofe words, briefly, fully, andclearly held out. Obferve; the Apoftle doth not fay, he isa ‘Servant of God forthy good; but to make it plain that he is a Servant to the People alfo,he faith he is a Servant Of God To thee for good: there- by moft excellently reprefenting, not only the End of Magiftrates, in ‘thofe words, For goed ; but alfo the relation they ftand in, both to God. and the People, in thofe words, he is a Servant Of God, Tothee ; and though. this may (perhaps) feem ftrange to fome, that the Magiftrate thould be a Servant to the People in general, and themfelves in particular; yet this Scripture doth not go alone, but there are more than two witnefles to confirm it, although one Scripture is a fufficient proof init felf, be- caufe God,who is the author of it,cannot lye. I fhall therefore mention fome other Scriptures for confirmation of it, Aéts.43.36. Itis faid that David King of Iftael, Served hs Generation, The word uanpern eas, im~ ‘ports, a Service full of labour and care, it is a metaphor taken from ~ ‘thofe perfons that werk at the Oars, and is fubftantially applyed to in- inferior Servants of the Commonwealth: ‘as Mat. 5.25. left whe Fudge deliver thee tothe Officer; thatis, the Failor , ta ‘urysen. So slteek 14, 65. the Servants ttrook Chrift; thatis, the inferior Officers that acter. “ded the Court : and without doubr, a King is as truly a Servant tothe — Commonwealth, asa Jailor, Bayliff, or any other publick Servant; and - therefore hath the Spirit of God applyed the fame expreflion to himas hehathtothem. ~~. as ee ie Andif we read Davids behaviour to the People, we hall find that he well underftood and kept his relation of Servant to them 3; for whenhe - — had made an unadvifed refolution to go out in perfon, and leave the. “City (which was neither fafe for him not them ) they tell him plainly, that he fhall not go forth ; whereupon the King fubmitted to them, with “thishumble aniwer, which well became the Peoples Servant » that ~ sphich feemeth you beff will Ido as if he thould have faid, it feems beft to me to goin perfon, and I had fully refotved ic; but you fayitis. better for me to fuccor you out of the City ; I fubmit my. Judgement. ‘to yours, and my Will toyours, and that which: feems deft to you wall I do, 2Sam.18..1, to 6. So when he had a defire to bring the Ark of “God back agzin in a publick manner she asks the Peoples confent firft, < ‘David asd EI SOI STORES AED SEES — » ther, welendvignorsnt of this ;, they Bnew ole ing was the Peoples | ‘Setvant, and therefore they perfwadect him, to-acknowledge him(elf to ~ be the Peoples. Servant,,and promife to Senve them, 1 Kings 32.7. and | that was the way to.eftablith his Throne ; but the young Courtiers’ (like | -~~~“our Feather-men) could not endure to hear of this ; they tell him tiga difhonout toa King to be Servant to the People;and counfel himtofand ‘up for a lawlefs Prerogative, and to daunt the Peopfe With threatnings ; | hay aepanseaet David did, and be aServant to them fortheirgood, vant; and not to diflemble with the People, promife one thing, and | - Snean another; and. therefore they add, dud wilt. ferve them; as if they | - fhould have» faid, if thou wilt.promife them to be their Servant, | peregrine 1 Sag ee a — : _ by-reje@ing that advile,. Reboboam left the K ingdom of Ifrael; . _.- __» Andikg manner Ahab (though a wicked man) was fo obfervant of Davia [ aid unto alltbe Congregation, If i feem. good nto Yor, let as fend, KA gc, 1 Chron,13.2. And indeed common reafonwill tellus, thatitis fitter one man-fhould fubmitto the Judgement of many thonfands (1 mean in things lawful) rather than they to him, - “Rehoboams wite Counfellors,the old men that: ad ftood before his Fa. — | om buc alas it was in-vain ; the People underftood their Priviledges and 4 ‘Liberties, yea,.andduty alfo, too well to be fooled out of all by great | words. » if hewill not fubmit to-their jufidemands, and do whatfeem- | -fhallnot be their Lord to their hurt, to vafldlize and enflave them. — they rejected him and his Government, and chofé another in his ftead.._ ‘The advife which the old.Counfellors gave him, was rational &-fincere, | and .is recorded to their honour ; they were. worthy Patriots of their’ | Country, and Affertors of ‘the Law of God, and Liberties of the Peo- | ple,againit unlimitted Prerogative,and arbitrary Power ; they perfwade ° | the King to know his place,.and be humble ; if thou wilt be their Ser-> | and perform thy promifeto them,and wilt indeed be their,Sergant ; anc oe ‘This. was Saal’s plea, when he had difobeyed God in {paring Agagy | and the chief of the Cattle ;. Iobeyed the voice of the People, 1 Sam,i5.. F -4...as if he fhould have faid; Iam the Peoples Servant, and muftobey. | them, Lwas.afraid to. difobey the People.. 1 know this was.no excufe for | Sew, neither did it juftifie the a@ion, becaufe he had an expre{s Com. ° | Mandfrom God todeftroytHemutterly. kd » And therefore, if the greateft part of the People had been unwilling: tohave Agar killed, yet he fhould have obeyed God rather than man; ~ but it fhews, that Saud. knew. the People to be above him, and thatit — was hisduty to obey them.in any. lawful command ; and therefore [ would have excufed hisdifobedience to the Command of God by his: ‘@badience to the People... : EES EOL OF | People, that he would not prefume to give ananfwer to Benhadad, _ about a tmatter of publick concernment, till the People had appointed —.— a “him what to fay ; and when the People had forbid him to confent into Bew-hadad’s demands, be obeys their veece, and returns this anfwer to Ben. - people have forbid. me to confentunto thy demands, andI may not dif- obey them; Iam their Servant ; the Silver and Gold thou fendeft for, qg mine no otherwife than as a Truftee of the People, to employ itin their Setvice, and for their good; and [ muft not difpofe.of it without — theircomfent. hab who had fold himfelf todo wickednefs, had not et attived to that degree of unrighteoufnefs, as to pretend an abfolute Prerogative to do what he would ;~or that the People had no coercive = power overhim3 for he confefles he may not do that,f which the People — (in the vindication of their own rights )forbid him to do. You fee then, how clearly the Scripture makes good this Affertion, That Magiftrates ( yea the very higheftof all) are publick Servants to the People. Let ug enquire 2 little into Reaton, and fee what thatfayesuntoif, x, Then, donot the People make, conftitute, and authorize Magi- ~_Mrates > whence have they their Callunlefs fromthe People? fron God by any immediate Call,as AZo/es and Forma, or inan extraordinary ‘manner, bya Prophet * as Saul, David, Fehu ? This they dare not pre- tend to, From Nature ? let them prove itif they can; as foon may they” turn the Day into Night, and Ocean into dry Land, as prove any right to Government, by Nature, inherent in one family, asI have fhewed before. By conquelt? And fo hath every Rogue in the World, thatis able to get acompany of theeves together, atid forcibly take away my Poffeflion,and lead me captive, aright to govern over me. There’sno other right to Governntent, either by the Law.of God os Nature, but the Peoples choice; and therefore needs mult they be Servants unto thofe who give them their power. “yaar 2, If they were not the Peoples Servants, why do the People main- Is it noe from the Peoples purfe - tain them, and pay them their wages ? e . * in this Ar- the Magiftrate is maintained? I need not ufe many words gument, you know itt by experience. Why (faith Cryfoftome). do. we give. a Tributéto the King ? & it not the wages of bus care for our protetlion? Since Wages fromus, whatfhould then, the Magiltrate hath his Power and he be(in reafon) butwour Servant? oe ee ae Object: Bie a iv not his duc? how then can we be {aid to give it bing Ps. Sol: Anfmer. Iris his due no otherwife,: than as he is,a: publick Sex- sqintto us, and is by us entrufted with: the care of our common iatety, and {o becomes due Wages for the workhe dothuss bo es 3 Ce So Oietate | i , | | { { ae, } . 1 hes en: . , 2 : — 5 ObjeGks Bue if Magifirates bebe Peoplet Servants, shy’ then are thay called the Higher Powers, aad every foul commanded to be fubjetl to them, pos. Romie fam Naied:ihey Dia ETS Bee ete et Sofi This i¢ meant of our finglécapacity, notioPonr collective. Eve. | | ry man may be confdered ‘fingly, or as: one particular perfon 5: and fo, ‘every particular perfon in his ‘fingle'capacity, is: inferior to the King, _ ‘and to be abject t0, and obey him, in the execution of his‘Office : Lut | ‘aman may be confidered conjun@ively,; or,as heisin union with the’ | Commonwealth, anda part of that whole; and in this refpect the | Maciftrate is inferior to us; ‘as we are allunited together, and makeup | ‘one Commonwealth :forwe ; that is, all particulars joyning together, _ | give the King that power, which afterwards, as private perfons, we ate | ~ -fubje&t unto ; and are fubje@ to him no otherwife tan as the publick | | Servant, which we have’made, anddo maintain at our charges, paying | him his wages for the Service he doth us; we are fudjeQ@ to: him notas | _ our Mafter, but as our own Servant. The King is Supertor fingalis, but Inferior Univerfis ; Superior tous as fingle perfons, but Inferior to usas | we area Commonwealth, — oh ee ee : 2, Whereas fome would reftrain this, only to the King or chief Ma | --_-giftrate, there is not the leaft ground for any fuch rettriction ; foras | _ well the Subordinate as Supream Magiftrates, are over usin their feve- | -. “yal placesand degrees, and we are as. much bound to obey. fudges, | |“ Mayors, Bailiffs; in the execution of thar truft which the People have | ~ -repofed in them, as the King; and yet we do not-think a Mayor ot Bay- liff to be above the Community that chofe him; and the word tranfla- | ~~ ted higher, Row.13.1. (where the Apoftle {peaks of higher Powers) 1s | _.» ‘attributed to all other Magiftrates as well as the King, aderay cv vortegnl | Brea, 1 Time, 2. all that arg in Authority, itts1endered there, } } *-3, “Minifters are faid to be over the People, 1 Thefs. 2; and the : People are commanded to obey them, andfubmit to them s2the Lord, § and yet they ‘muft not be Lords over Gods Heritage, 1 Per. 5 .3. but | |.» are Servants tothe People, 2 Cor. 4.5. And it is the very fame com | cerning Magiftrates, forthe Relation of Magiftrates and: Miniftersin | _ ‘whe general,is one and the fame, they are both Servants to the People, | though ina different kind of Service. oor 2 » pga aX orion = ae om “= OdjeX. But are not Magiftrates called Gods ? .-How then cal they be the | Peoples Servants ? ed daa: Sy. | | Se Sol. Thatis a Metaphorical Expreffion, fpokennot by way of Pro-| ‘pertys but Refemblance ; we know Magiftrates are not properly gods, | ~atwere blafphemy to fay fo ;°the names or attributes of God cannot } Without blafphemy be given tothem ; it were blafphemy to oF : King } . oes | Jehovar,) - -Febouah, or Lord God, or thei like or to give him’ any. of God’s.Pro- - perties, Omnipotent, All-wife, All-fuficient, Eternal, or the like: . they are called Gods, becaufé true Magiftrates do in fomehigher Meat fyre, than private perfons, refemble the Wifdom, Power, and Juftice ~~ of God, whichis the utmoft can be proved from that Titles this doth. no Way contradi&t their proper Title of Servants to the People... -. For when a Magiftrate is a terror toevil works, and aptaife to good, : - . Rom.43.3. he is a Servant.to the People for good , ver.4. andin this” fervice of his, he reprefents the juftice of God, whorewards every mat . accoPlling to bis works, We mult beware of {training Metaphors; the, ' proper title of the Magiltrate, which defcribes his relation,is a Servant. _ Of God Tothe People. ‘The Metaphorical Title of God deferibés his Virtues and Duties; the Wifdom, Faithfulnefs and Juftice which a ~ ttue Magiftrate is indued with, and rules in; and the proper and meta- phorical Titles are not repugnant to each other: but chis obferve by the way, that he that is deftitute of thofe Virtues, or neglecteth thofe ~ Duties, wherein a true Magiftrate refembleth God, may be more juftly © 9 calleda Deviltham a God, becaufe he refembleth the Devil more than ~ God. Tf it be faid that-an unrighteous Magiftrate; by reafon of his great power and external glory, refembleth God. Lanfwer, Jt is fale; for’ -. God’hath no unrighteous or oppreflive power; neither hath given any; . fuch to Magiftrates ; and therefore there is no refemblance between the __ power of a Tyrant ox Oppreffer, and the Power of the: Moft Juléand a: Righteous Fehovah. The tamed fay of bis external Glory sforthe Glory, . _ of God is in his Wifdom, Juftice, Faithfulnefs,and other attributes,and, the Works of Goodnefs, Mercy and Rightéoufnefs which he doth ; which the outward powers and {plendor of an unrighteous Magiltrate dothno- . way refemble; burit doth moft aptly tefemble the power and glory.of the Devil) whofe Servant he is, and whofe works he doth, © . - ObjeQ. But tf the King be the, Peoples Servant, why isit that we read _ fo oftenin Scripture, that.she People were ufedto falmethe King with this ’ ‘Title, My Lord the King ? and fay they were his Servants? om Sol. “Thofe are expretlions of courtefie and refpect, commonly ufed. not only to the King, but private perfons ; yea, fometimes our inferi= ors. ‘Rebecka calls Abrahams Servant, My Lord, Gen.24.18. Facob calls. ae his Brother Efan, My Lord, eight times imtwo Chapters, Gen. 32. and —— 33. Obadiah calls Elijah My Lord, 1 Kings 18.7, 13. The very fame _ 2 sad Title thatis ufually given to the King, andthe fame wordin the tes “brew in all thefe places*wm So the Levire (inaway of courtefic) fayes to the old man that came from his work out of the field, Thy Ser. - want, Judg.19.19. —— 2K ings 3.135 and Ghpit is . e £2 = fe a Cc er ; : hee J 3 \ ade ae ae Be i 52 ? e ee . Sone, ae; a = gpd fae & . SRE” ONE eee : Sn a 2.6. And fo itis to be si sciece when we tead the People call the King My Lord, and fay they are his Servants, 1¢ 1s an expreflion of courtefie, ‘not that they are im a ftrict and proper fence, and in point of duty, his Servants, or the King their Lord, forit is nothingfo. Thus We read, — — aiKings 12.4. the People come and tender their Service to Rehoboam, — ~~" condition that he would eafe them of theirburdens; they came with refpectful, courteous language unto him, and thought’ to winhim | Hereby ; but when he refufed to perform his duty to them, they make _ him know, that in a ftri&t and proper fence, they were his Mafters, and | could punifh him for his faults, and did deprive him of his Crowngiwer, | | And {othe Parliaments of England, and often the People without the: | ~ Parliament, have (in their Addreffes to the King ) given him the Title » of Lord, ina way of honour and refpec; but when he hath refufedto perform his duty to them, and endeavoured by his unlawful Preroga- | tive, to abridge them of their Liberties,they have made him underftand | his Relation,and by force of Arms aflerted their own Priviledges, and | - fometimes. compelled the King to perform his duty, other times depo. | fed him from the Government; as the People of Ifrael did Rehoboam | upon the fame account; and fo have moft, if not all, the Nations inthe. | + gt para | F - World-done the fame.» fj 1S Hee He Hd How common a thing is it im our ordinary Salutations, tofayweare | --fach a ones Servant, ina general and refpeétive fence, and in point of | -couttefie, whofe Servant we are not ima {trict fence, and point of | iyo te | Obje&. But why may net’ Princes be Lords overthe People, as wellas. | | Mafters Lords over their Servants, for the word tranflated Mafter, Ephel. | 6.5. Col.-3. ade fi nifies Lord 2 Ac 7iSee : | Sol. 1, Becaufe the Servant is inferiour to his Mafter, and by his { place obliged to ferve his Mafter;~ bughere it isthe contrary, for the Maciltrate is inferiour ts the Commonwealth, becaule he is made by, | and for them, and his Office (as I have fhewed before ) 1s to be a Ser- | vant tothe People, Now a nam cannot be in one andthe fame refped | Eord and Servant. =. opes says | | - “2, The Matter pays the Servanthis wages;fo doth not the Magiftrate | the Péople, but the People pay him his wages. So that this Objection | -¥g july retorted upon thofe that urge it, and in ftead of proving the © - Magiftrate to be the 8rd, and the People to: be Servants, proves the contrary ; that the Magiftsate is the Servant; and the People Matters, | _ Which not only the Philofophers and wifemfort of the Heathens under- flood; but mafy of th® greateft Emperors in the World have con-. | Set oe eo ka Fi a ha ~ ture from Philofophers, Orators, and others, but I know the judge- ' -yead La 1.) would not fuffer the People ro call him Lord, Tiberimet afar, who fucceeded him inthe Empire, (of whom we read ‘Luk, 3.1) forbid any man to call him Lord, and took it as a reproach. caft upon him, for any one to call him fo.Andin an Oration he made to thePeople he ufeth thefe words, [have often, do fill afigms,that a good:and _virtmous Prince, whom you have entrufted with fo great and large authority, us Cafar,one that had the Empire of the world (of whom we ought to ferve the Senate, and all the Citizens often, and many times particu- ~ dar Perfous, neither dof repent of what L have faid. And I have acknowledged you for my very good and favourable Lords, and do ftill acknowledge the (ame. Thus you fee the greateft Emperors of the world confeffing them- felves to be the Peoples Servants, and the People sheixr Lords or Ma- fters. | | | ee >: eS The fame in effect did Trajan the Emperor confefs, that he was infe- siotit to the People; for when the Prator delivered him the Sword at + his Inauguration, he returned it to him again with thefe words : Take shis Sword, ufe it for me, if I dothat which is goods but if o: berwi{eagainft gee + and pat [o much the more, becaufe it 1s the more. wicked for one that Rules over all, to tran{, grefs the Law himfelf. e e : * He was far from pretending to impunicy,that his perfon was Sacred, and muftnot be touched whatfoever wickednefs he committed; but Pike a wife manand good Governour, he refolved to do nothing worthy. of punifhment, or if he did, he fubmitted himfelf to. the ttroak of the. . ~ Sword, as much as any other perfon was todo; and itis obfervable: that it was not for want of power he {pake this, for the Empire was then atthe axwi, at the higheft, or verynearit. — ; | - Thefews in like manner, a moft wife and valiant King of she ie 2 ans, acknowledged the Peoples power tobe above his,. and affirms ( yea. glories init) Thats Athens the People Kei gned. T could quickly tire both my felf and you with Teftimonies of this na-. . ment of any man is no proof, and have given fvfiicient proof from Scripture and Reafon already, and therefore ] fhall not fill up my Pa- 2 pers with tranfcribing other mens judgements, butmention*one or two: places worthy our confideration out of the new Teftament,whicn are the Teftimony of Chrift himfelf, and Paal his Apoftle,.and with a few Infe- rences from the whole clofe up this Chapter. fe 2h ae 3 The Art is thar of our Saviour, Adat. 20.25. to 28. The Princes of, . the Gentiles excerci{e Dominion over them, and they that are great ex oe a Authority over thems + but it [ball not be fo.among you : bu: whofeever will be: great among you let bina beyour Stavant. And whofoever will be chief amon ge a>. you, let hin be your Servant. This Text h olds out thefe things _ hate Covetoufnefs-you fhall not choofe men to Govern for their Great- ° 9 Gd \ Yi = f ‘ a mentiles, /Firff, That there were two great political Evils among thesiyet ae mM, they, | --y, Their Princeslordedit, or exercifed Dominion over t would not keep within the bounds of their relation which God and Na- tite hdd {et out to Governours, to be Servants to the People ; but they. would be Lords over them, whofe Servants they were imright. And _ eherefore it is thatChtit ufeth the word xa]auvpreduate they exercife Lado 4 (hip againft them “as much as to fay, their Lordthip is againft the Li- | “herties and Priviledges of the People, againtt the Gvod and Benefir of them whom they Govern; Their Prerogatives abrogate the Peoples Rights, ‘2. The great men exercife Authority over them,nor the wife men or the _ cood men, who were beft qualified for Government, butthofewhohad = | great titles and riches Were Rulers over them whitch wascontrary tothe, _ Light of Nature,which theGeariles were erndued withal,as lhavethewed) | at large under the qualifications of Magiftrates. Governours were ce not chofen for-their Virtues or Goodnets, but fortheir Greatnefs, | "Secondly, Both thefe evils are forbid among Chrittians. Jt hall nor be fo among you. You that will be my followers fhall not imitate the wick- ‘ed mannets of the Geatiles, Your Princes fhall not be Lords over you, © they fhall not exercife Lord/bip againft the Liberties and Priviledges of - their Brethren. But whofoever will be chief among you, (which muftbe the. | chief Magiftrate, unlefs you will allow any other above him) ¢er him be. your fervant. They that are great fhall'not exercife authority among you, but they thatare Wife, Good, and Faithful men, fuch as fear Godand ee ed _ 3 nes fake, but for their Goodnefs.. — Obje&. -But % nor this place to be underfto od onely of Minifters,that they : | are not to be Lords over the People ? | fac Sol. There is noreafon for fuch a reftriGion, for the fame evil that. | was practifed by the Gentiles is Forbid among Chriftians. Je (hall norbe- 4 SO among you, HOW Was it among the Geztiles 2 He dothnotfay ther | Priefts,but their Princes lorded it over them, Bur it (hall not be SO among | -<» you, your Princes fhall not do fo. Chrift knew well enough that his, | Church wolld encresfe, and many millions own his Gofpel, and there. 4 fore carefully laies down Rules beforehand, how the Princes of Chrifti- | ans fhould behave themfelves. Se Again; our Saviour puts it in the moft comprehenfive terms imagi- nable, Whofoever Will be chief among you, let him be your fervant ; be he who he will thatis chief, heis but your fervantathigheft, And Chit — —~altows of a chief Magiftrate, but the Gofpel knows no chief Minifter. . For though Pasé faith, 2Cor, 13.5. he was not behind the very chief of *® ay - And in regard this Precept 1s fo confonant to the Light of f oe he conker ant he Light of Reafon, Law of God, and chat of Rom.13.4. where the Magiltrate iscalled, A Ser- thers, butchief in /abours and gifts ; and fofome might exceedothers. vant te the People, 1 wonder any fhould go to refttainit only to Mini- | 5 : wens * es 2 Sy eo. fiers, it being given in {uch extenfive univerfal terms, ne Another place like to this, is 1 Cor. 8.5, 6. There are many that ae oalled gods, and lords: bat to us there but one God, the Father + and o “Lord fofusChriff. As if he thould have faid, there are indeed . How much better would at become you to be humble and -yefpestive to the People, and acknowledge them for your good and fa- -you are? as if the People were your flaves, when in the mean while People, That which feems beft unto you will I do, “what *malepert and faucy language will they give tomen, whofe cloaks | they are {carce worthy to.carry? Sirrah, Kuave, andthe like, to thofe J} . what is this to deeds ?- what are you, for the greateft part, but very Ca. | -ferpillars and devourers of the Land? Is this your fervice to the Peo. | ‘ple, to eat them up as one would eat bread, and make a prey of yourMa- | ~ down to Prifons for confcience fake, becaufe they do what God com- - toferve ‘the,People for their good, is this the good youdothem? © ‘them, A Servant honoureth his Mafter,. you are the Peoples Servants, -and oueht to honour them, - You are not ignorant, I fuppofe, of that a ~euftom of the Roman Emperours toreverence and adore the People, . How little do‘you mind your duty tothe People? what is the fervice “you do them for the wages you receive, unlefs it be to make them flaves — to your lufts > Let humble David be your pattern, who faid unto the I dren, Evod. 1, 16. burthe Midwives feared God, and did not as the | _ they are ftifled to death, becaufe a wicked King commands you. » Sm | bid his Foot-men kill the Piiefts, but the Foot-men would/nat put for) 5 Bf cys vourable Lords, as that great Emperour did? than to be fo ‘haughty you live upon the Wages they give you, and are Stipendiaries u -— a, Aword to (ubordinate Magifirates and Officers. . a. Are Kings themfelves. the Peoples Servants, and mutt you be Lords? What infolent and abfurd behaviour have I feen at the Courts of Pub. | lick Judicature, from Judges, Juftices,yea inferiour Clerks themfelveg? a) i whole fervants they are, and whom they ought to honour. Buralas, | fters ¢ And you Conftables and other Officers, who hale men upand | mands them ; that beat, wound, yea killmen, who are peaceably af- : fembled, to feek the Lord,and build up one anothers fouls: Is this your — faithful fervice to God and the People? you were appointed by the Lord — But you will fay, We are commanded by the King, and we muft doit? ; I anfwer; ‘Whether better fo obey God or man, judge ye? ‘The King 4 commands you; and what, is his Command to ftand againf{ God’s? | ~Godhath faid, That which w altogether F uff {halt thow do, Deut. 16, 2. | And will you do that which is unjuft, becaute the King commands you? | ‘it fhews you fear him more than God, -The King is the People Servanis* ~as Wellas you, and will you abufe your Brethren becaufe their Servant © “bids you ? Pharash commanded the Midwives to.kill the male Chil- | King of Egypt commanded them, ver, 17. Tf you had the fear of Get) | that would teach you not to hale men to Prifon, where they afe-keprtll | then 4 - ao ay y < Bo a _ perhaps the People too, before y their hand to fall upon them, x Sam, 22.17, You that are Conflables: an other Officers, are you not afhamed to be more bafe and flavith thar. Sanl’s Foot-men? Well, know afluredly, that the righteous Judge will. call you to an.account for the injury you have done inthis kind, and. : ou are either willing oraware. ~~ : sii 337 A Wondto the. Peoples 229156 wie) oo anc Are Magiftrates your fervants? then learn to be wife, and-know your ‘4 : oe Priviledges for time to'come, and be not frighted out of your Right and Reafon at once, by thofe Traitors and Rebels, who would make you be. _ fieve that it is Treafon and Rebellion, to call them to account for the Treafon and Rebellion they are guilty of. The People of J/racl were wifer than to be frighted out of their Birth-tights, by Rehoboams creat _ words, And Oh that my Countrymen would underftand their Liberty and Duty in this cafe, and not idolize thofe who are indeed their Ser= vants. Be not fo foolifh as to court your Servants while they make you flaves, and puta yoke of iron on your neck, For Magiftrates who are made and maintained by us, to protectus; to.opprefs, enflave and mur= der us, is the higheft Treafon and Rebellion, againft God and us, as all wife men know. For our Servants who are {worn to defend us, and feek our good, thus wickedly to tyrannize over us, is molt fuperlauve - Treafon, and tranfcendent Rebellion. ~ Church and State, the People are not careful to preferve that Power — will be their Lord, and they thall be his Vaflals ? But that I may clofe Oh what a flavith fpirit is there upon England at this day! thacwe, fhould fuffer our enemies to domineer over us, and give them fuch ex. _ ceflive wages for keeping us in flavery. _ No wonder if this Land be< come a Chaos, when things are turned up-fide down, Servants become our Matters, . ee ge This is the caufe why Tyranny hath fo much prevailed both in God and Nature bath given them, but fuffer Magiftrates and Miniftéers | (which by the Word of God are their Servants) to encroach upon their Rights, till at laft they come to-be their Lords. i This midwiv’d Lord Bifbops into the world. The Churches grew neg» jigent, and fuffered the Minifters to take their Power from them, ad i. when once they had let it gog they could not recover itagain, Andis itmot the very fame in Politick affairs? when People are to. void of rea- fon as to give their own Power into the Magiftrate’s hands, or let him encroach upon their Liberties, can they expect any other but that he © up this Particular, underftand ; Parliaments are the Peoples fervants, We fend them up as our Truftees, to make Laws for our good ; if they make Laws for our hurt, to opprefs and injure us, they are ey, Seg Die tag te | | an Us Oe ¥ ic * " i - c - %, ; and treacherous fervant’, and ought to bedealt ‘with accotdingly, Ring, Judges, Juftices, Mayors, Conftables, and all other Magiftrat 7 or Officers, are our fervants, to protect us and fecure us from Violence. anid Oppreffion’; if they break their Truft and opprefs.us, the Law of God and Nature-allows us, to call our fervants to account,punifh them, according to their, deferts, and turn them out of our fervice. a # We f 4 ‘ # a te : a 2.5 f é Wet beet * = “te : : ag > ~ e iE P ; Oh sg Geo ae BEA» ES — ey . Anfower the End of Government ; 2, Keep, avd fill up their Relations | . 3. Obfervethe Law of God themfelves; 4. Exercife fuftice ; 5s and k : protect the Land, | ee ge pee Hh “ey a A ¥ a “= Treating of fome general Duties which Magiftrates are obliged a. Tode Duty of Magiftrates falis‘next under confideration, and bes | BR caufe this Theamis fo.large, that ¥ cannot have room im this Dif- courfe for all the particular Duties of Magiftrates, either Supream or | Sabordinate, I'fhall only mention fome general Duties, under which | " many particular are comprehended, z Ri he 4. Then,Maeiftrates ought to make it their great defign, bothin their undertaking and exercifing their Authority, to anfwer theendsof Go- | __ -werment, and to profecute thofe ends, in the whole ferses of their tranf- | actions. They fhovld confider the greatmefs of the work they take in ‘hand, the ftrigtnefs of the account they muft one day give, and examine | well their own hearts, whether they mean in andertaking, what-God did © in éafiituting Goverment ? whether Gods ends be their ends? whether 1 they take the charge upon them for the glory of God, and good of the | People; or for bafe ends of*worldly honour and oreatnefs > i ~” Alas lhow few Magifirates are there, whofe hearts will not condemn | them in this, if they fhould bur dare to put the queftion tothem? | Where is the Governor to be found who doth not make his private | intereft his cheifelt end? thatdoth not take more care to honour him- | felf and his poflerity, than God? that doth not feek the Peoples goods more then their good? as if the People had been made for them,norihey | forthe People. Thisis the mark that Magiftrates fhould level at,in | all their confultations ; How may Ladvancethe Honour of God,and promote the Peoples good? like Titus. Vefpafian, of whom itis recorded, that he | . counted that day Jolt, in which he had done no good, ae a f 2, Magi | -_&, Magiftrates mutt eye ice all caf iano weipeas Contorivable“therete, 2 I oy ee ~ x. They muft fill up their Relation. You are Servants of God,he hath | —-entrufted you with Talents, look, you imploy them to. yout Mafters a - ufe. -You are Servants to the People, they have oiven you power to. employ it in their Service, they alfo pay you your wage: ? Then ferve the People, not your elves, O how many Rulers are th sre that inftead of ferving God and the People with their Power, ferve the Devil and emfelves in all oe their Lufts>? initead of ferving the People, ferve themfelves of the People. You are called Seaxoyor, your fervice thould be like thofe that travel im the duft, that labour andtake pains. You are called acirepyol, Publique Servants ot Workusen ; you are not to coniume your time and treafures, - -, inidlenefs, but painfulnefs. Yow give the Lion, the Umcorn,and Beafts of Pr j prey fer your Arms, asif your Office did allow you to prey upon the People as you do; it were far more futable to your relation to give the Labouring Ox, thereby to fignifié that you know your place, and mean to difcharge the truft repofedin you, by taking pains for the People. _ “You are called Repairers of Breaches, which will not be done without diligence. _ Magiftrates are by their Office Nurfing Fathers, then learn of Mofes, to catry the Peoplein your bofome, 4s a nurfing father doth’ the fucking child, Nwmb. 11. 42, and fhew your readinefs'to ferve all particular perfons, as often as you can; that they may have occafion to. fay, you are the fervanrs of God to them for good, Rom, 13.4. Remem- ber that which is reported of Titus VeSPafian, who is {aid never to have 4 fent away any perfon fad from his prefence. 2, Befure you keep within the circumference of your relation, you are Publique Servants, take heed you do not forget your felves aud your relation, and pleafe your felves with dreams of Lordly Power over the People, whofe fervants you are. Bz provident of the Peoples Trea- - fures, be humble in the Peoples prefence, be curteous and affable in your carriage, amiable in your countenance ; labour to win the Peoples © love, by kindnefs andrefpe@. Like Trajan the Emperour, who be- haved himfelf fo to the People, as he would have an Emperour to have. done to him, if he had been a private perfon, Remember the mifera- ble ends of Lafcivious Sardanapalus, Luxurious Virellias, Prodigal He~ — lingabalus, Bloody Nero, and others, who kept not within the bounds of theirrelation. Ifyou tranfgrefs the limits of your ftation, and {pend. your time in wantonnels, luxury, prodigality and tyranny ; the People. ohe time or other will remember their relation, though you forget yours. It hath been obferved by Hiftorians of the Inhabitants of this ifle, that though they endure long, they will not endure alwayes. They - Ge 2 | | a Wall : \ ef : : 2 Se ene 9 S ore they call their fervants to. account, but at faft they ufe tot leven Oppreffion makes a wife manmady ot make al ¥ 9 ° -. But the Wrath of. che People 4s like the ‘Rag overwhelm a thoufand Lions in an inftant. ese pO PR . = - Remember that proverbof a wife King, eh eWrath of a King is like the rearing of a Lion, we grantit, = ng of the Sea, which will _» You feematprefent to imitate. Canatas, once King of this Ifland, | who fitting in his Royal Chair by the Sea fide, challenged a Lordly Pow. er over the Ocean;.and forbid the waves to touch his Robes,-threatning | them, if they did prefume to difobey bis commands: but the fturdy waves not valuing his Lordly threats, approached his perfon,wet himto made him know the Qoean was above him. . Beware of dallying too = EN ; a ; i Lom long with the Britifh Seas, and lordingit over the multitude of Waters: _ 4#€ once aSpring-tide arife, and Tame and Humber overflow, they will acknowledge little. homage to your Lordfhips, and perhaps, thew lefs, — _< They willmake you to remove yout Chairs, as Canutus did, and perha $ -- genounce your Titles alfo. They will wet your thighs,and cool your lufts, ~~ and wath your filthy bloody skirts ; thofe Rivers Ruow no Lords, ‘ the thighs and skirts, forced him to remove his Chair, and retreat, and ; + 3, Athird duty of Magiftrates, is, To obferve the Law of God theme - felves, that fo they may by their example induce the People to the fame. _ _Hearken.not to thofe wicked Earwigs ;. thofe open Enemies. to God, . the warld, and moft of alf to your felves, who tell you that you are a- | bovethe Law. They ferve their own bellies, and know no other God, — _ They are the greateft Plague and Judgment of. the Land = fuch Lepers — fhould not be endured in the Engli(h Camp. Such filthy Lawyers and Prelates are the Foxes and Wolves who annoy this Commonwealth; it | ~mever will be well with us till cheyare taken. Varlets that have ree ~ fp2ct of perfons, and will tranfgrefs for apiece of bread, Prov. 28,21, | What feared con{ciences, and whorith foreheads, have thofe men, that. - dare to fay.that the King % above the Law 2? when as the Lord hath given | as if the Judge of the whole.Earth fhould do as unrighteoufly as your felves. As if the Lord fhould make a Law for Kings to tyrannize and opprefs the People without controul ; when as the Lord hath parti _ cularly enjoyned the King ta keep all the words of his Law, and all hw Sta- tutes, todo them, Dout.17.19. the Lord forefeeing that folly. which the: - ‘People would commit in asking a King, many hundred years before: it came to-pafs, madeaLaw, that if arany ame the People fhould fay,. Iwill fet a King over me, like the Nations round about, Deat. 17. 14. the ; King [hould keep all his Statutes as well as the meaneft perfor, -Andif yOu: - cask, why then dothvhe tell the People ( when they asked a King ) that ‘this would be the manner of him? Laniwer, Not (ye Blafphemers) as 4 the Lord allowed of fuch Tyranny, but to deter the People from that folly which at prefent did poflefs them, in asking a King. . For the Lord was highly difpleafed with them for it,. as you may reade at large in the ftory, He'did give them their own defire of a King), but. in wrath, Hof. ‘13, £1. Tee King was made.to do Judgment and Juice: af Tyranny - -and Oppreilion be Judgment and Juftice, icis lawfulfor the King todo. hat, otherwife not. | ewe es: fees Go likewile Fudges and Officers are appointed.to judge the People with juft Fudgment Deut.16, 1$.and the Lord:complains of the Magiltrates, Plal. 82." How long will ye judge unjnfily, andaceept ve perfons of the wicked ? | Defend the poor and fatherlefs, : do Fuftice tothe affltited and needy. Deliver phe poor and needy, rid rhedibout of the hand of the wicked, Here, here is the fbb Oe ere. ‘ | : Duty of ie, iftratess but alas es alls HET ROE Ga ss gE ot Oe ‘know not,neither will they underftand, they walk on indaiknefs, all the Bach forthou (hale inherit all Nations. 00 Oe | a Thee the Peete coftuuéts us whatis the Duty ofthe Magiftrate, Rom. 43.3, and 4. To give praife to them that do well, and toexecute wrath upon | phew that do coils And the fame doth the Apoftle Peer afhim, 1 Per.2, | 34. But how little are the Scriptures regarded now a-dayes? O what | ~ cafe have we'to take up that Lamentation, Ifa. 5 9.1,t0 16 2 andefpe. | cially that, verf. 145 and 15. fadgement 1s turned away backward, and Fafhice frandeth a-far of 3 for Truth ss fallen in the treet, and Equity cane got enter swyea Truth faileth, and he that departeth from evil meaket it hiv. help aprey.. << * A ae oe ee | - ‘5. A fifth ceneral Duty of Magiftrates, is to Protect and Defend the ‘People. Therefore they are called Shepherds, Numb. 27.17. Whenthe | Lord told Mofes, that he fhonld go up to Mount Abarim, and fee the Land, “anil be gathered to his People, he entreats the Lord to appoint another to [uge ceed hina, that the People might not be as Sheep without a Shepherd. So Da. vid was chofen by God, to feed his People Ifrael, 2 Sam. 5. 2. That is,to _ betheir Shepherd and Leader, to watch over them for their fafety ;which | he did according to the integrity of his heart, Pfal. 78.72. The Title | | of Shepherd is not appropriated to Minifters, but belongs to Magiltrates | | alfo; Nowa good Shepherd layes down his Life to Protect and Defend | the Sheep, Fohn 10, 11. Magiftrates are called Shields, Pfai47.9.and | Hof. 4, 18, Her Rulers, the wordin the Hebrew is,her Shields; now-the | ule of a Shield is to Defend. Seth TON Na ae A Thus Toladefended Ifrael, Judg.10. 9. and Gideon, hazarded his life | for the defenee of his Country, fzdg.9.17. not tomake himfelf Lord | “ever them, (for that he refufed afterwards) He did notifight for Ho- — | «nour or Greatnefs, but forthe Good of his Country. Thus Nehemiah ) _ -adventured himfelf in perfon for the Peoples good, and would not flee | “to fave his life, and leave the work unfinifhed, Nehem. 6, 11, though | ‘ ‘there were many and poterit enemies round about; He wasa Shepherd | “that loved the Flock, a true Shield to defend them from Tobiah, San- | - ., ballat, and the reft of God’s and their enemies : a Repairer of the Brea- — | “ches both in thé People andthe Wall. a - Batalas, poor England ! thy Shepherds ‘are become Robbers, thy 1 . — fousidations of the Earth are out of courte. Ar ife, O God, and judge STR eh ee ee eee neni Runnenniss ines ane meaemenaa Princes within thee are roaring Lions, thy Judges are evening Woldies sin "fead of defending the Flock, they devour it, Thy Shields aie become - Swords, which pierce thine own bowels, Ti Rulers inftead of repair _ Ing-thy Breaches, throw down thy Walls,and widen the Breaches among — \ thy Inhabitants more and more. Bue ges Pin =S : Ee hs 2 : ‘ REE abieate : . ena j ra f you, O'ye Hea S Eng land, aid Princ ? x ep \ ae s a § y = SORE ARIAT OUR Mar cen cnn 227 hd Princesof thee Naz | thong 5 Leir nor for you to know Fad gement ¢ who hate the good and loveibe | evil, who pluck their skin from of them, and their flefh from off cheir boness | who break the bones of the Lords fe and chop themin pieces forthe pots | and boil thems in the cauldron, The day % coming when youlball cry untothe | Lord, but he will not bear'you, ‘he will even hide his face from you, as you. : have behaved your felves il in your dogs, Mich. 3, 1,to 5. Youatethe | Shepherds of this People, therefore thus faith the Lord, wobetothe — | Shepherds of England, that do feed themfelves : fhould you not feed the Flock @ Yeeat ithe fat, ye cleath you with the wool; ye killthem that are fed, but ye | feed not the Flock; with force and with cruelty have ye-ruled them, Bebild ! _ Lamagainft the Shepherds,and I will require my flock at their hand,and cane — themto ceafe from feeding the flock, neither [hall they feed themfelves any more; for I will deliver wy flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them, Ezek, 34.1,t0 11, | oie TN, ae © J thall iG no longer on the Magiftrates Duty at prefent, but come to his Due, which is contained in thofe four Particulars mentionedim - Power. = a ae ey Tribute, | 2 . a Tid. eee : at oe And Obedience y with two ReftriQions applicable tothemali. | Firff, The Proportion ; whatisdue.. a oe a! Secondly, The Reafon; Therefore. ~~ a i. J half begin in the next Chapter with the Powerofthe Magiftrate. | ve the Defcription of Magiftracy, iis 4 J | | | (ie 2 z ; : os an N } - ~ Hoenn ee ee cemen “ARERR al PRA ies IS Ve ca NS a —w ; : 1 ee | Trenting of the Power which the Magifirate is 10. be entrufted withall s : | fhewing that he is to have fo much. Power ws adequate to Be end of q © | Government, relation of a publick Servant, and duties of his place and — that he hath no right to any Power contrary to that, a Pe es ; * B him from the People, which is principally comprehended-im fous SILLS SS, toda gh er } Fe ees "J fhaltbegin with the firk, Power. ‘By the word Power, I mean not NT EES 1 \ / | + e ; ; a t \ the performance of that truft,God and the People have repofed in him which by the Greeks is called. Surdpus and by the Latines, ‘Vis, and dif. . fers from susie Authority, whichis mentioned, Kom. 13.1. Becaufe ple; as is adequate to the End of Government. For otherwife the Of- fice were a vain thing, if it were. not invelted with Power fufficient to an{fwer the End of its Inftitution. — ay ‘a, Somuch Power, as is adequate to the relation heisin. Thatis, | apublick and painful Servasr, Of God, and To the People. For to make -- aServant, and give him too little Power tor the relation you fet himin, were to fet upa man of ftraw, or the Picture of a Magiftrate, | : 3. So much Power, as may enable him to perform the duties of his place ; to execute Juftice, to Punith thefe that do Evil, and Reward — thofe that do Well, Rom. 13.4. And to defend the Nation in general, and every one in particular under his charge. - Thus all, both Superiour and Subordinate Magiftrates, muft have Power {ufficient to perform the Duties of theirs feveral ftations, and the — Truft which the People repofe inthem. This I think none will deny; ~ but the queftion will principally be, what Power the Magiftrate ought — not to have ? For the greateft inconveniences of Government ly in the excefs of the Magiftrates Power; I fhall therefore fpend mofttime about that, 1, Then Negatively. The Magiftrate is not to have any Power which is for the Peoples hurt ; he was made for their good, and no sea forrhe - fhould have any power for their hurt ; power enough to make the Peo. | ~——— ple flaves. when ever he pleafeth, to perfecute them for doing well, to | take away their Eltates, Liberties or Lives unjultly, this Power is not | his due; becanlettis contrary to the End for which he was made, The — Peoples good, Rom.13.4. itis a madnefsin any People, to fuffer. their, Magiftrates to take fo much Power into their hands, as doth enable them when they -pleafe to hurt and opprefs the People ; it were not fafe to truft the beft man alive, - the Power or Strength which the Magiftrate hath put into his hand is” ‘mentioned afterward in the 4th. Verfe, under the name of a Sword. And | the Magiltrate is faid to bear the Sword, becaufe itis delivered inte hig | hand for the performance of his duty. But tobe moxe plaininthis par. | ticular,I fhall thew you what Power 1s the Magiftrates due,and what not, | _t, Then Pofitively, The. Magiftrate is to have fo much Power or Strength, as may.conduce to the Glory of God, and Good of the Peo= | * Power isa means of carrying on » or executing Authority. And there. Ms fore that word tranflated Power, had been better rendred Authority. For. with fo much Power as tobe able to injure us if he would: for itisa : ey ota es) Stee common ce _ common thing for Governouts to play the Hypocrites ; begin to covern _ Well cill they have cunningty eftablifhed themfelves, and got power’ enough into their hands'to opprels the People, and then begin to Ty tannize. Thus did Nero himielf; his fit five years he reigned well < And Tybersss did the (ames but when they hideftablifhied themfelves’ in the Throne, and were poflefled of as much Power as they thought _ : ‘fufficient'; murdered the Senators, oppretted the People; and commits ted all manner of outrages, ~ a oS | ~ 2, The Magiftrate is nor to have fo much power asisunfutable to hig’ ) Relation of the Peoples Servant; to have fo much Power as tomake © -himfel€ thetr Lord: If a People will be fo unwife.as to cive the Masi- trate Lordly Power, they may well be fue he will vie it to theig - thraldom ; and do we nor find 1t by woful experience this day >. whar are We Detter than flaves ? when upon any pretence of the Gourt, they fetch Men out of their Houtes, where they are peaceably following their Callings ; and though they have nothing to charge’ them withall, yer. fend them away to Prifons, where they keep them to the utter undoing » of chem and their Families ; how many hundreds have been thus deale withal, fince thefe men have had this exorbitant Power in their hands ?}_-___ Is not this the very higheft favre when Men dare not pray, or preach, or meet together to worfhip God, but they are haled to Dungeons. Oh Exgland! this could not have been, if thou hadft been fo wile, as to have-kept thy Powerin thineown hands, anid given no more to thy Ser- vants than is fufficient to perform thy fervice. 3 Eis ask ce 3. Magiltrates fhould not have Power topervert Juftice, and deftroy — | aLand; their dutyis to execute Juftice, and defend us and are they’ | not bereft of Reafon, who would give them Power todeftroy and un- od doz us? Fora People to give the Power of the A4ilitia into the hancs if of the King, is by interpretation a giving away of their Birthright, ard, (Ad expofing their Lives, Liberties and Eftates to. his will: For if the King : | may command the Adi/itsa as he pleafeth, what Tyranny is too hard for him? I deny not but the Kingis to bear the Sword for execution of Jus _/ | tice, and defending the People ;_ but to have the Adi/itia wholly at his difpofal, is not that Sword due to him? for thatis to have powertomake the People flaves when he pleafeth. And do not we find the fad effects _ of this ar prefent, when the Walls of our Cities are thrown down in a time of Peace (after an Act of Indemnity) which are the ftrength and de= k | } fence of our Land, in cafe-of a Porreign Invafion ? - Object. We fee tps now, bit it is too late, the Parliament have given the git Power of the Militia to the Kin g,and fince all Authority is aganft KS, whit — Bes & he % a H I Afi can we do? | Aafo, The Parliament are your Servants. aswell ag the King : we. chistes King to.govern us for our good, to.preferve our. Lives, Liberties. q : and Eftates ; we chufe Parliament, fend them.up to- confult our safe- | ‘ty, toaffert our Liberties and Priviledges, to make Laws. for the.Glo. Gers, and have wickedly robbed us of our Power, and {hared it among. | | = theimfelyes,;. wwe ate no. more bound to.fubmit to. their uujult and molt. | prefidious Aéts, than a Matter is bound to-ftand ftill, and let his. Ser-. | gy of God and our Good ; thefe our Servants confpire. againft their Ma- © Mantgive awayhisGoods,andundoc him. = 1 What Authority had a Parliament to give away our Birthrignts, to: | a enflave the Corporations.and Counties that fent them up to aflert their | -Breedoms, and to expofe us.to the lufts of wicked Oppreflots ?. to give. | . “away the Militia of the Land to the King, to he difpofed of for our tla- very? for who knowes not that it is put into the hands.of dleody P apifis, | and. Sons. of Cruelty. and Oppreffiony in moft parts of the Lande Did. | I ~ God give them this. Authority ? who dates fo-to blafpheme ? Did the. L, .-£. People give them any fuch Commiffion ? not in-the leaft ;. and there- | *** fore I conclude they had no authority at all to doit. That they have — no authority, from the People, I make good thude er ce an vas x, There is no People can, be fuppofed to be fo deftitute of reafon,. ; and fuch Enemies to themfelves, theif Little-ones, and Pofterity, as . to fend up Truftees to enflave them, and. undoe them, to give away, | theis Birthrights and Priviledges,. to expote. their Lives, Liberties and. | Eftates to Tyranny. - ae a gt Woe saeee _ . 2, Ifany People thould be fo foolith tofendup Truftees. with aCom- — -miffion of thismature, yet it were unlawfully done ; it were again{t the Law of. God and Nature. and the Grant itfelf nulland void, — : Tt were a wicked and treacherous thing, for any man to give away, ~ the Power of preferving is own, but efpecially his Wile, his.Children,, | and Pofterities. Lives, Liberties. and Eftates ; becaufe beth the Lawof | God and Nature, oblige a man to preferve all thefe; to.give away the, | power of felf-defence, from my felf,, is mott abominable treachery to | my felf. ee ee > Togive it away from my Wife and Children. 1s moft curfed and un- natural treachery, to.them ; andif, a man fhould give away. this: Power to another,, yet the other hath no night to.it by that grant 3 itis asif it had been nevergiven, There are two infallible Maximes: which make this good ; Whatever-a man gives, if it_wers sD powien tqaruedes : a7 obliging. But it isnot in our power.to give away felfand family-de- ~ fence; and therfore if a man fhould doit,yetthe grant were not obliging: ‘ Another Maxime ascertain is that; Againff the Law of God or Na« ture mashing binds ; Bur to give away the.Power of Self and Family. defences, | - 44 Yd N | | .§t) oe | to a King or Parliament, or both, or to any other Perfon. or Perfons, is againfl. - the Law of God and Nature : And therefore if a People fhouldbefoig- nofant as to do it, yet it doth not at all bind them. Suppofe a Man. -- fhould give the King or Parliament an abfolute Power over himfelf, his. Wife and Children, and they fhould come to ravith his Wife,or murder big Children before his face, were he bound to ftand (ill and fuffer it? no fuch’thing’; the Law of God and Nature binds him to refcue his Wife and Children, if it be in his power, notwithitanding that. unlawful A& of his in giving them away before. 5, We tn es, ae soothe Parliament had no Authority fromGod to betray our Rights and Liberties; for God ordained Magiftrates not for our hart; but: good, Rom. 13-4, They,could have no.authority from us, becaufethe Lawof > God and Nature obligeth us to defend them; and therefore there is Ine deed nothing but a pretence of Authority, which is as meer a cheat as any in the world ; and we have the fame right to all our Freedoms-and Priviledges, that we had’ before they gave them from us ; andas {oon ng we can, itis not only our Liberty, but Duty, for the fake of our, Wives, Children, and Pofterity, to re{ume them again, and to turn. thefe unfaithful Stewards out of our Service, with wages fuitableto | - ¢gheirmerits. ~~, : ge , ae 2 | The Lawyers fay there are fome cafes, wherein, though theKing make . N a Grant to a perfon by his Letters Patent, yet nothing paffeth to the a Patentee. See ae 3 \ eae -* Jam fure if Scripture, or Reafon, or both, may give Judgement in ( \ dioufly to the King, yet nothing pafled of right to the King thereby. _ he Parliaments giving Our Birthrights to the King,is jut of as much force, as if the Cofvocation of Prelates, or Council of Bifhops, fhould ourcafe, though the Parliament have given away our Birthrights perfi- | give out fouls to the Devil; they have as much Power to do the lat- ter, as the Parliament have to do the former ; for both are againft the ~ Law of God and Nature : and the King hath juftas muchrighttoour Liberties, by the Parliaments Donation, as the Devilhath tothe fouls. of thofe, whom the B:/h2ps excommunicate and curfe. te Pretence of Authority, to opprefs us ; for they have no other Authonty, » Letus not be fuch Childrenin underftanding, as to be frighted with a } | but what is derived from | e Devil, and our perfidiows Servants, the - ee o oH.3 ey geet As ae CH PS. . wo 7 f ~ | | | Parliament, who have (Colm for noughty | f se - f : ‘ad ; : nee ; i re Bs ; - | | | | : the People, that is due to the Mag fn ¥ |. Poftively. Firft, So much Tribute as isn 4s their due from us, Many Towns, Cit _ ftroyed becaufetheir Magiltrates had not Service. Conffantinople was made a prey to.the Tur flavery, they are not bound to —-wefs, which is burdenfome to the What ever Tribute. the Magiftrate dem day Taxes upon the Peo _becaufe the Lord hath forbid him (aad by confequence other things) to himfelf, D ™ 3 ~ : 2 Be et | “he é = Sop ee ee ae 6 r . . ee es Za = = ‘ : 5 ,- a i = - “a * me f : . = * r 3 - 5 C ‘ H A Pp eo SP I I : a= : , eps r 6 q Fe : i ‘ ; Y, 5 * > Si, e ey ¥ 5 \ ~ * ¢ Sal is fe ee . “ z ’ * ’ 3 Peder Tee 3 7 fa Sa "a Po = "4 eee ee : ; - Py ies ke Fi my ; e i s ed oe ve x. . FT Come from the Power due to the Magiftrate, to the Tribute ; and F. D Gaeche te as I did the former, 4, Poftively, -29 Ne gam. a oe necefiary for profecu- ting the Ends.of Government viz, the Glory of God, and Good of : giltrate 5 and the People are in juttice bound to render unto him. nae Alaa git ies oe ~ Secondly, So much as is Cuitable to the Relation he is in. mult have fufficient Wages Magiftrates are our Servants, and Wages competent to»their Office: ies and Nations, have been de- Wages enough to perform their » ‘by the Covetouf- Emperor with Money. Servants to perform their Service ; yeayir is their due: hefs of the Citiz2ns, who would not furnith the fufficient for the defence of ‘the ON a a ee “s Thirdly, So much Tribute As ismeceffary for the: feveral Duties of Maciflrates, is. due to them, to catry on Juftice, and protect the Land $. which Varles.according to the greatnefs of their. truft, and various B. mergencies of publick affiires ; Wkichis. the rule by which the Magi- ftrates Wages is to be proportioned, eer We _ 2. Negatively, What-ever Tribute is. indeed burtful. to the People, is not due to the Magiftrate ; becaufe it is contrary to the End for Which Magiftracy was ordained ; he was made for their good, therefore they are not bound to maintain him to theirhurt. Ifa Magiftrate will have _ a Tax to maintain a ftanding Armyy. which fhallkeep the Peoplein: pay it, becaufe itis for their hurt. If a ino Pauls, or any Other Superftitious bufi-. People,. they are. not bound to pay it Tax fhould be levied for build to cheir hurr, Relation, we are not bound to pay him. If. ver,Gold, Horfes, Wives (or Whores) to ands-not corref; pondent tohig a Magiftrate will multiply Sils. himfelf, and in order thereunto ple, they are not bound to Pay what he requires . to multiply Si/ver, Gold, or Forfes, =. | * eat. 37,36,17, mark the: | the expreilion ; Zohimfelf : as if the Lord thould have faic, I allow ~ the King Silver, and Gold, and Horfes enough to carry on the publick Affairs of Government, but he fhall not fatisfie his own Pride or Co-. - vetoufnefs, or other lutts, out of your Purfes, = ee | We are bound to maintain the Magiltrate as our Servant, not as our Lord ; we are to pay him Tribute for the execution of Juftice, not for the maintaining of Pride and Ambition: for the Command of God re- quires us to pay no more Tribute than is due, Rom.13.7. ra: creas, What Fiibute is proportionable to the Relation of a Magiltrate, I ‘acknowledge to be his due, fo long as he performs. his duty to the Peo~ ple ; but if he perfecute them for doing well, and opprefsthem, they are under no. obligation from the Law ef God or Nature_to maintain him, The reafoa why the Word of God commands us to render Tri- bute to the Migiltrate, isbecaufe, He the Miniffer of God tows for good, Rom. 13.7. and 4th verfes compared: Render therefore to all their dues, Tribute to whom Tribute w due &c. verf.7.. Wherefore 2 Becaufe he ‘% the Minifter of God to thee for good, verf.4, And yet moré plain, vert, ‘6. For, for this caufe pay you Tribute alfo, for they.are God’s publick Ser- vants, attending continually upon this very thing. What thing is that ? That which he mentioned ver.4. praifing them that do well, punifhing thems: that do ill, = ate Og ee eee ~~ How manifeft is it from this place Mthat the caufe why we are to pay Tribute tothe Magiltrate, is for the goodhe dothus; Becas(e be w a Servant of Godtousfor Good, | eS But what if they be Minitters of the Devil tous for hurt 2 punifhing us for doing well,attending continually upon our deltru@ion, doing all they can to enflave us,and opprefs us, aré we for this caufe to pay them. . Tribute ? then may we call darknefs light,and light darknefs ; for thefe. tivo caufes are as contrary, as Chriff and Belial, Heavenand Hel. When Rehoboamrefufed to eafe the People of their burdens, they eaf- ~ edthemfelves, by cafting off his Yoak, 1 Kings 12. 4. -though they had 2 endured many Oppreffions in Solomons time, yet they would not endure: it alwayes : And fo may any People juftly re je&t fuch Governours, as: _ Tay intolerable Taxations and Exattions upon them :.And why fhould We be fo flavifhias to pay thefe men Wages, for chaftifing us with Scorpions 2? are we becomeServants, are we homeborn-flaves? why are we thus fpoi- led > The young Lyons roar on us,they yell G make our Land wafte,Jer.2, 14. “Oh! what a cry is there in the Land, -of the poor and needy that pe~ rith for want of that which thefe wicked wretches {pend upon their’ ‘Jufls> for by reafon of their Tyranny and Oppreffion,Tradeisgricyoul= jy obftru@ted, by which the Poor fhould.be maintained, and Taxes con-- -tinually: Cd > ee s 2 tinually multiplyeds fo that the greatelt number of thofe: who ufed to relieve the Poor, have {carcely now to provide for themfelves and Fa~ “mily ; and what they would give to the Poor, is forced from them By “the Governours to maintain their Pride and Luxury, while the Poor _pine away in neceflity “And think you "tig their due, to have the Patri- “mony of the Poor, to fulfill their lufts Withal? Are. we bound to pinch - “our felves, and ftarve our Poor,to make Fuel for the tufts of Rulers ? " Obje&. But doch not Chrift command ws toyender to Coelar the things that ave Celars ? that 1s to pay Tribute to him, Ma : * "Sol, Render.to Cafar the things that are Cefars ; that is, what is Cae “due, render unto him, - Thisis the fame with what the Apoftle faith, “Rom.33.7. Render therefore to every one his due, Tribute to whom Tribute isdue. Our Saviour fayes no more than this, whatis july due to Ce- - ate daatrender to bitte ke ake ete: i Oebh ods Gretna +1 -. 2, But Chrift leaves the Queftion unrefolved, whether Tribute were | due to Cefar or no, he feems rather to evade than to refolve the Qnefti- on, by an Anfwer that was dark and dubious, capable of divers inter- ‘pretations,which produced wonder, not tatisfaction,in theInterrogators; forit is not faid they hiked his anfwer,be they marveled at it,and left him, &c. ver.22. concluding that they were too weak to-enfnare him,by the -wife-anfwer he gave them/at firft word, Ifyou fay, doth not Chrift infer that Tribute money was Ca/arsglue, becaufeit had Cefars Image and - Superfcription ? I anfwer, No ;forby that argument,all the money in the Land were Cafars, for ithad his Image, and no man were worth apen- | ny. Chriftrather feems to confound the Querifts, than refolve the ~ Quefifon ; but however, he enjoyns us to pay no more than hisdue. _ 3. But take notice of this, that he joyns God’s due and Ca/ars toge._ | ther 5 Give unto Cafar the things that are Cafars, and unto Gad the things | that are-God’s ; now the Poors dueis God’s, Prov.19. 17. It w% lent to God; and by the Law of God and Nature, the Poor have a right in out Eftates, and ought to be maintained, and not forced to beg or fteal, as - many thoufands.are at this day: And forus to give thefe men what they | demand, to {upport their lufts (if we can tell how to avoid it)-is to de= | prive the Poor-of their right, andfo rob God of his- due, under a pre- ~ tence of giving Cefar that which is not due to him. = ee _ For whatever power.C and onthe fide of therr Oppreffars was power, but they had no comforter, eAs a. roaring Lion and a ranging Bear, [0% a wicked Ruler over the poor Peoples, Prov.28.15. 3° ; : 3 ef. _ Odj. Bae did. nat Chrift himfelf pay tribute to wicked Rulers, Matth. 17, 27, and are not we bound to be followers of Chrift Fel U8 2 ae : | -\ Sol, The Text fayes no fuh thing, as that Chrift paid Tribute, but oh Be gave the Lribute-gatherers 4 piece of money, lef they fhould be of = fended... 2 rts ae fae a ad | _ The Fribute-gatherers ask Peter, Doth your Mafler pay Tribute? ver. Zhe ¥° rerceit feems they queftioned whether he would or no s. for they Jook’d upon him as an enemy to the Monarchs. of this world ; but Perer thought Chrift would have paid it, and therefore an{wers, Yes: butas he wis coming to ask of Chrift, our Saviour prevents him with this que- ftion ; Do-the Kiags of the Earth take Tribute of Strangers,or Children ? Of Strangers, {ayes Perer, Then are the Children free, fayes-Chrift:. Never= _thelefs left we feauld of end them,, give them apiece of money. Asif kefhould have faid ; They ask thee whether I donot pay Tribute, ’« Teadi? Whe- ther I donot pay it as a due> Itellthee, no; we are Children’of the Nation, free perfons, and they have no right to it fromus ; yet lett we offend them, give them a piece of money, 435 eu]ots.. aes oftles, as members of the Common ick chargesof the Nationg -. Oby. But were not Chriff and his 4 spealth, bound to bear afharein the 4 , | _~ Yes, in alk juft-and reafonable Taxes ; but this feems to be an unju/h and oppreffive Vax, fu ch-as Kings did not ufe to lay pon. Natives of the Land, bur Strangers, fuch as they had conquered: now Chriff and Peter being free-born perfons, and Children of the Nation, werein pointof. - Equity fee from this Tax; And fo are we fromthofe unreafonable Ex~ — gGtions,. whieh at prefent are jaid upon us ; bound to pay what they demand,. for: the fatisfaGtionof their lufts, and. _gontinuation of our own flavery. , Obj. Bur doth not ChrifPs giving mnoey to the.Tribute-gatherers, left he: {hould offend them, oblige us to give money to: our Tribate-gatherers rather than give them offence ?- i EE Oe ae Soi. Not atall, for the cafe differs exceedingly. , hem two toftand A the Rulers oppreffion, when all the Nation fubmutted to if, out again vas in Vains Chrift took upon-him the form: of afervant, and was plea- fed to humble himfelf fo, as to live in a low condition in the world, and did not come to determine Political Centroverfies, er,,but to be ina. fuffering. condition ;, and unlels: he fhould have exe ne GI ced: { -weé are not. in conicience y his Kingly Pow~ Smear Y: : a Ise —_ = a — _€rted the Power of his Godhead, in vindication of his own and the Nations Liberties ( which at that time was not his work) ichad been in vain tocontend with them. But ic will not follow hence that the Sreate(t part of the Nation had refuted to (ubmit to that unjuft Tax and heavy burden, it had been unlawful for them fo to do, or is for us at this time. PIR : | | _. 2. Chrif and Peter hada fpecial worleto do which the People of the ~ ) -Land had not; he was fent to preach Glad-tydings to finners, to feek and fave loft fouls; and to make known the Myftery which had been hid from Ages; and if he (hould have contended with the Rulers about Taxes, at {uch a time when the Nation fubmitted, ic would have been the way to have hindered the work he came about ; the Rulers would have been offended,and‘o have oppofed his Preaching: bucit will not ‘follow hence that the generality of the Nation, who had no fuch foecial work to do,might not have contended Wich their Rulers, for their jutt Li. berties and Immunities, and caft off thofe heavy Burcens,which the Go- vernours laid upon them ( as they did in Kehoboam’s time ) or that we May not contend with our Oppreflors. SEAS Poe 3+ Chriff could avoid offending the Maviftrates by fuch a way as we cannot: he wrought a mirgcle, and got the money he gave to them out of the mouth of a Fifh: we cannot eive them what they demand, bue We mutt take it out of the mouthe of our Wives and Children, and the Poor, who perith for want of thal give to the Miviftrate, to fpend _ upon hts tufts. If all the People of whom thefe men demand fuch un- aeafonable Tribute, could create money; or bya miracle Setit, without ' depriving their Wives and Children, and the Poor of their due, there might be fomethine more to'be faid for giving them money ( though that would not make it our duty) but fure we canno: give them what they ask, without impoverifhing our Relations,and famifhing the Poor “of the Land ; I cdinclude there is nota thadow of any Obligation up- ‘on Us, to give them that which they require. | SCS fare: ~ Objet. But would you take particular perfous Judges in iheir own cafe, wherher theTribute which Magifirates demand be uff and reafonable, or ne~ ceffary forthe Publick affairs ?- by this means it were impoffible for a Governa went to ubfift, For fome ont of Lenorancey others out of C ovet ost); ne{s, or En wy, will be alwayes complaining and never contribute freely tothe Publick: charge, and fo the Nation be undone, ae ati eee __ Sal. Every free-born perfon may be confidered under a twofold Capas city, Private, or Publick, 9 * 1. A Private capaciey, as he is one fingte perfon, dis joyned from the teft of the Nation, and {o private perfons are not Judees in their own etc 2 : | Cafe, \ -.% Pa Cafe; what Tribute, they are to pay the Magiftrate, but ought tofubmic ial - to the Judgement of the whole Nation,unlefs they are certain that it be = Pos ow ae oo eS he 4 a ee Se ‘ pordek oi 27h unjuft.; for if particular perfons are certain that the whole Nation de- cree an unrighteous Decree, «they are not bound to fubmit unto it. For. Anftance, if a whole Nation fhould denounce an unjuft Judgement upon any one, to.confifcate his Eftate, or take away his Life, for that which he had not committed, or for doing that which God had commanded -him todo ; he were not bound'to fubmit to this unjuft Judgement, but might lawfully fly, and preferve his Life, and carry away his Eftate alfo if he could. So likewife, in matters of Tribute, if a’Nationfhould — _ by common fuffrage,decree an unrighteous War,to invade their Neigh- -bours caufelefly ; a Superttitious or Idolatrous Temple to be ereted, ‘a Heathenith.or Ancuchriftian Fea{t to be celebrated at Publick C harges, ‘and appoint a Tax for defraying the coft; in thefe.or fuch like. unlawful ‘Statutes, a private perfon may refule.to fubmit to the whole, or to bear apy partin it; Becaufe their Judgement is contrary to the Law of God, “But now if a Nation ordain a Tax which is not contrary to the Law of God, in tis. cafe a private Perfon is nor.to, be his. cea aan Meta | ‘tofubmic to the Judgement of the whole. As if a Nation by Public ~confent, ordain a Tax to be raifed for maintaining a Navy, to defend them by Sea,an Army by Land,to build Garrifons for commonSecurity, or a hundred other lawful things that might be mentioned in fuch cafes, | a private perfon is not to be his own Judge, whathe ought to pay the “Magiltrate, but to fubmit to the Judgement of the whole, becaufe there & ww £34 4 < # == + oe a a x : may be néed of thatwhich he doth not apprehend. © = * 2, But fuppofe it were fo, that inno cafe, -a private-perfon mightbe his own Judge againft the*whole ; yet confider a man-in his publick — -‘capacicy, as he is conjoyned with the whole, and fo heis.a Judge in his own cafe. For all particular perfonsmake up the whole, andin that re- fpect are Judges over the Magiftrates ; whom they made,for their good, » 2 « and maintain as their Servants ; judges what Power,.and Wages, is — fit for theirServantstohave. ~ _ mee oa Que. But how (hall-we diftinguifh between fuch Tribute as is dueyand {uch asis not due? for we had need be, certain that st. 1s vot due sf we refufe to ie eee ee ee __ Aafw, +, When Magiltrates require Tribute for unlawful ufes. For 2gige \ se inftance, if thzy will have Taxes to maintain their Pride,Covetoufnels, © Lafcivioufnets, Luxury, Prodigality, We ale not bound to pay what they. , demrad. I deny not but in prudence we may give it them, in cafe we cannot avold it,without our own undoing ;. as a man would rather give his Purte toa Thief, than be killed : But in Conicience we ate frecto, : o0 FES eR EE a ee eS eee Aes BtPca bad TT AR y refule, 5 ? 7 : i . ie ‘ C58) 7 : : | , | Te oe es, = ; — Yetales Sf We Gin With our own Tafety. When it is evident tothe World, \ ‘that Magiftrates ufe.our money,*not for our good but hurt, ferve theig | — own Lufts with aur wages, we are not bound to’ matntain them.. sie | -O-how many Hundred Thotifands,. nay Millions of money havethefe | “fen fqueezed out of poor Exg/and within this three-yéars 2 which hath: | moon all {pent upon their Luxury and our Slavery. Whatimmefurable | (Pride and Waffulnefs are they guilty of 2 who is abletofathom the -| -Covetoufnefs of the Clergy and Lawyers? the infatiable Rapacity of | the Courtiers? who like theGrave, never fay, "tis.enough, A Generati- — “on, whofe teeth are as (words, andthe jaw teeth are knives, to devour the: poor froma off the Earth, and the needy from among men, PrIOV+ 3°. 14," A ‘Whirl-pool that fucks in what ever comes near it, and fo great, that if ~~ | “God permit them to continue a few years more, they will fuck inthe whole Land. A bottomlefs Pit as-deepas Hell ir felf. Andthink you — that itis your duty to maintain Play-houfes-and Whore-houfes for the: --Courtiers, with that which fhould buy your Children bread, or.feed the - hunery bellies, and cloath the naked backs of the Poor® , 2, When the Great Ones lay the burden on the. Mean ,, the: Rich ‘eafe the burden on the Poor, the Poor are not bound to bear the burden. EO DNIGhs Sn Ae SRE OF a ae «.s Ifa Parliament, confifting of Eords, Knights and Gentlemen, who: ‘have the greateft part of the Revenues of the Land, will caft the burden: “of the Faxes uponthe poor Handy-crafts-men and Labourers, who get their Living by the fweat of their brows, it is unjuftand:not atall ob- — ligatory. as AA PES Se ee ORT a ae ee ' - -3,. When the ‘Tribute is-:more than the People are able to pay, with- at cs A+ GASEAEMERIAE.> READER Tata le abate A: EA Se GAT AG UES scx imag ARES \ ya er ne rng te te na a a ne , > ibe N, bak: ‘ils < 4 17 : ‘out impoverifhing the Land, and impairing the Common-wealth,when,, | ‘nota few:covetous or envious perfons, but the generality of the Nation, _ groan under their burden, and complain *tis‘more than they are able to: ‘bear, and the Governours lay on more load ftill; in this cafe the Go= “vernours:are Oppreflors,and the People may remedy themfelves if they. | €an.. Se az . ; 2 = ‘ : ad se : ~ Odjee. Bur the People have entrufted the Parliament with this afar, ‘aud therefore what Tribute their Truftees have. ordained, they are. bounds - Sol. 1 fay as: before, ‘in: the cafe of Power, we give the Parliament: | Authority to raife fuch Tribute assis fufficient for our fecurity, and the: _ Service the King isto do us’; but we give them no Power to.impoverifhi. or oppreisus, togive away. our Wives-and Childrens-bread; to maine. tain a company of Proud, Lazy, Drunken, Debauched Courtiers , filthy: — Adie Deones, who will not. work.; and therefore by the Law of God) — a. | , ae SS fhouldé / Eftates from their Wives and Children. and the Poors due alfo. oi iied Provifion for the Lufs of their cruel Taskmafters, who {poil them.of all - their Liberties, both as Men and Chriftians, is more than a feces’ Parliaments-have Power to decree, and we are unwife to endure, { r= a | CHAP, TX, : Tr eating of the Flonour whichis due ta. the Magiftrate. ee YN the handling of this Particular, & Idid in the former, and fhew you, . Perf, What honour is:due to the Magiftrate, — tee - Secondly, Whatis net, _ eile: | _4, Then, we owe to fuch Magi@rates agare a Terroun to con! Works,and @ Praife to them that de Well, the Honour of fuch jutt and lawful Titles as the People beftow on them; as King, Judge, Sheriff; ‘Mayor, op the likeswhich is fo clear both in the Old and New Teftament,that it needs » ‘moproof. — | 2, We owe to them the acknowledgement of the good: fervice they - ue thankful acceptation thereof, although it be-no more then theix.duty. | ; | | pes a oe _. Thus we read the People did ufe to acknowledge the good they had — ~ received, by A4ofes, Fojhua, Gideon, David, and other good Magittrates, and mourned for them at their Death: and-zood reafon, for the happi+ nets of a Land is bound up in the Government thereof. so _ Such Princes as Govern well, deferve Titles of Honour: The Ro= mans Were wont to give the Titles of Pater Patria to their good Empee rours, as they did to Augn/tis, Antoninus, Pixs,and others, And Augufimsy, who refufed to be called the Peoples Lord (as I mentioned before ) yet did with the higheft fatisfaction, and thankfulnefs, embrace that Title of the Father of his Country, The Title of Lord of the Country, is far in- feriour in the Judgement of all wife men, to that of Father of the Country. PP gle Tage a Weg re -. Yea good Magiftrates deferve to be honourably mentioned after ‘death, and hadin blefled Memory. by -Pofterity ; as Edward the Sixth, . that young Jo/fah, is, and willbe-totheWorldsend. 895 3. We owe them Honour in our Wg and behaviour, as we ey | | oe ; | tne I thall obferve the: fame Method, 2 ee ° Bon Pee he a3 athe Lotds People| were Wont to'do, bowing the Head andthe Body, in " aoken ofthat honour which was due to them. Thus did Nathan to Da- Wid, w King, x1 235° Thus did. Méepbibofberh; 2. Sam. 9-8. Araunab, | nChron, 2Y, 212 And T judge it very lawful and r equifite to fhew bo- -dily refpe& to.gdod Magiftrates ; ‘although Pcannotthink it lawful for a Magiftrate to punith any of the People, who are not fatished of the Jawfuinefs thereof,*and upon that account do refufe {uch ceremonies, asputting off thehat,orthedike. 9 77 Burin the next place, What honour is not due tothe Magiftrate? | a, Falie or flattering Titles are not his due, though he bethe belt ° } man. up6n'Earth, “Fob 32° 24, ‘Let me net, L pray you; accept any mans ae perfor, neither let me ive flattering Titles unto man ; for I know notto give — placrering Tiles 12 odoing my maker would foon take me away, a “~~ To call a man Defender of the Faith, who is a Perfecstor of it. Fo call _ aprofane Tyrant,Gracious 3: 'O. what. abominable flattery and falfityis. | | this > To.call wicked, perjured,profane Dukes, or bloody minded Pop:/h ~ Archbifhops, your Grace ; What is it lefs than Blafphemy ? It were fitter. * ‘tocaflthem-your¥ice, then yourGracen tee 8 + Obyou flattering Priefts, Courtiérs, Lawyers, aiid otherswho thus | - @ccuftome your mouthes to lyés,rhat.you'draw-theny in like your breath ; -eonfider what your:portion willbe from the Lord, Rev.21/8. youare all | . to be caft into tbe Lake that burneth with fire and brimftone. The getting of — — treafares by a lying tongue, is a vanity toffed’ to and fro of them that feck. | 1 MM Peer ea. G66 os SIS) POR MIGS IE RE Ce © What (hall be given unto thee ? or what [ball be done untothee, O thou falfe — 2 fharp arrows of the Mighty, with coals of Funiper, Plal, 120. a . a y > Afyou-do-not fpeedily repent, know that you fliall cry out one day for _ a dropof Water.to cool this lying flattering tongue: But I know what. your wicked:hearts will aniwer, Ler us alone till then and we-care not + _ know therefore, that notonely God, but the People will abhor you’; | the Loid hath denounced that curfe again{t you, Prov. 24:24. Heéhat | faith to the wicked thou artrighteows, him (hall, the People curfe, Nations \ mere ; = “> + i fball ator bins, ee ok. eek iow Glo? § +. - 2. The juft and lawful Titles of Good Magiftrates, are not dite to: omicked Magifirates; but they forfeit theirmright thereto; -by'theix® Ty- - “ranny and Oppretfion, or other mifgovernment. And therefore’ we fird _ omie-Prophets, Chnitt, and Apokiles, giving to wicked Maciftratés Ti. - | ‘des ofignominy. and difgrace, {uitable’to their merits, Sts sie § __ Elijab tells wicked Ahabto his face, Thom art he that troubletb Ifra- Ae a Maa ie Sh . | (Pas =. — eee ena en ee a PL ee ae ae a ee se) GN ry) pee Tg ong eT — * ~ + o - | co tree ; Rs , t Li v . <7. 6 “all : Be A tes _- Elihacalls K ing Fehoram, The Son of a Mur derer, 2.Kings 6,3 an olt » Latah calls the Rulers of his time, Rulers of Sodom, Mast.to, _; Exekiel calls the King of Lach, Prophane wicked. Prinse, Exck, 2%, “ye £5 B.S Ga RGy SSS tat q ory bay Tne heal. srlage aT gee % Sano cae SER AS da eP OM ee E LS ye ree SPRL MSTEY gk ay Wetter fe ry] | Chiidt calls Herod, Foe and bids:themgo.apd tell him fo, Luke 13. ») ' of Believerswas, Als 2.47.) with ope accordin their Prayers, men- tion ‘ Hered and Pontins.P. ilate, by name, ipread gheir ‘wickednefs.before - God, and defire the Lord, To behold their Threats, As 4.27.5. reps , id ‘ . 3 i * : Tt mas no- wonder. the holy Pr phets were fo periecuted.by wicked: ~ Rulers, fince they were fuch faithtul plain-dealing men, that knew not : = Sy a Saye Disk Say gy eiRIo * § bi : ehh gear neEy nas As LA, sae | Paul calis the Roman Emperor, A Lyon, 2 Tim.4-17, Yea,the Apor - ‘how togive flattering Titles unto them;but called them. Rulers of Sodom, Troublers of I[rael, Sons of Murderers , and Prophane wicke d Pe rfons. No. wonder the Governours looked upon; Chiift and his Apoltles with an Evileye, and punithed them as Seditious men ; fince they calle d then. Foxes, Lyons, and gave them {uch reproachfnl Tith’s, as they-had de- -ferved. They hated plain-dealing and reproof, as all Tyrants do, and wyould be fure-to fupprefs.thac {pric (if,they could which daréd prefume to reprebend their wickednels and yer theie holy Memwere not afraid) fo give them Titles of difhonour, aniwerable to their mente... ‘Qh you wicked flatterers!, that daub with umtempered morter, and er - #atter great Men for advantage, {ee here what the holy’ Prophets and’ Apoftlies did, and take (hame to your felves for your filthinels. #7 ta him that calleth good evil, and evil good, that pucteth Darksefs for Light, ‘ end Light for Dearkye Sj dfa.s.20.. Who juft fie the wicked for reward, af ds ° take away the Righ: conf; ne[s of the Righteous from. bins. Tosr root. (hall be rorcennels, and your bloffom dup. “The, Lord-is no re{pecter of..Petfons, . - and hath forbid us to be fo, Af Kings or great Men be wicked, they dee ferve to be calledas they are. Nay,. take notice of this;, that when the Chriftians in their aflembly, tift up. their voice with one accord toc od, and boldly prayed'to the Lord; To behald the Threats of Herod and Pons : ~ * ge “4 qf er Fg: - te tins Pilate, whom they: mention ed by Name,relating theirwickednefs ; - the Lord fhewed how exceedingly he was plea {ed therewith, int hat, as - foon as the prayer was ended, the place was fhaken, and they meré all | filed with the holy S pitt , and great Grace: wis upon thélpall, ’ Perhaps if. ‘there were more boldnels.in.the Affemblies of. the Saints at thi s day, in) Bearing a faithful Tefimony for Godagaintt thefe wicked Rulers, there: would be a greater Prefence of the Spirit of, ‘God. among them,. and: 3 i And: oo, we, of ‘And by the verfe following, iris evident,, that he doth-not intend to: affert the Priviledge of Princesor great men above others ; forhe tells: _us,that God accepts not the perfons of Princes or Rich men, more that whofe Perfons-are not accepted by God, he doth notufe that expreflion: | which is tranflated Princes,ver.18. and hath a virtuous: fignification,, but eqw;a word which hath.no virtuous fg ification, but fignifies barely Princes-or great Aden ; and he tellsus, 2 God regards wo man. for hw greatnefs ¢: and if this place fhould be underftood (as. the Royalifis:- would have it)to forbid us-to {peak difgracefully of wicked Rulers them the holy Prophets and Apoftles are to be blamed, for they did fo, as your - have feen before : but that is the true interpretation of the place which: Fhave given ; the otheris only: a glofs which the Prelates give to fup- port Tyrants, under the fhadow of whofe wings they fhelter theme . Object, Bat isst not [ai who may fayton King, what dof thou? Ecclef.. § A. By Wo. Sae-. ers - | oe bh, nocin dhew; not.one thatis'aTy= rantunder the Name ofa King. am-properly fignities Confwl, awifeand Solo. ee . Sol. This argues the danger ofieppofing a King, not theunfawful- ne(s. Inthe Word fa King 13 Power 5 "he ‘hath “fo much Power'at’ his command; ‘that no private perfon under his Government, is able to op-\ ‘POR hit Wisi hisowl THME? * FAR 9I8T70) Sime mr BG , Bat the meaning of the place is this) The King, for the execution of Juice, and punithing Evikidoets, hath foimuch power both from God’ and he Pe ople, thafnone may. oppofe h im n the execution of : Ju {tice ; and that this is the meaning'of the wife ‘Man, appears by the'verfe fore- going: Stand not before him in an evil thing, {ayes he ; andthen gives this as a reafon; for he doth whatfoever he pleafeth, and who may [ay to him, what doft thou ; that 1s, in punithing fuch as-will ftand before him nan evilthing. But itis clear enough that the faithful'Servants of Ged! | in Sctipture, ‘have faid more to wicked Kings,than, what dift thou 2 Sa- muel{aidto Saul, Thou haft done fooli(ety, 1 Sather3. 13. Elijahto As | hab, Thow art he that troubleth Ifrael; yea, the People of God were a bound to reftrain and punifh wicked Kings ; and’ frequently did fo, as T that! (hew hereafter. ~ “Objekt, “Doth not Paal confe(s his Error in- [peaking reproachfudly of the High Prich, though a wicked Ruler ; and thereby teach us, That it +s vn- lawful to [peak reproachfully of wicked Rulers? AAs 23.4,¢. ee ee »* Sol. Nofuch thing; the words do rather prove the dire& contrary s foritis clear that Paw calls a wicked Ruler, Whited-wall. siveshima diferaceful Title. ° ial un. ach “<2, Paul ktiew him to bea Ruler when he called him fo; fdr fayes he, | Sitteft thon to judge me after the Law, and commandef} me to be {mitten con- ‘trary tothe Law? verf.3. he knewhim tobe Judge, and yet calls him Whited-wall sand without doubt he knew him to be the man they called | _. High Prieft, by the High Priefts Robes, and the Place w there he fates | : for Paul full-well underftood the Cuttomes@é tHe Fours, 88 sju5 Tad § . “93. Whereasat is alledged, That Paul cotreés himfelf, or recants | afterwards ;there ig no ground for it; J wif?-nor, fayes Baul; that he was | ‘High Prie# 5 thatis, truly really fo; asindeed he could not be, | Decaufe the High-Priesthood Was abrogated by the Death of Chrift, who ‘was the true High PrieSt. And befides he was a Tyrant, and caufed him to be fmittep conttary to’the Law ; and’therefore no Jawful Ruler: © ‘and the Apoftle anfwers not only the Objeion which théy made again him, for reviling the High Prieft, by fayine he did not kgow him tobe’ ~ - “High Prieft,or own him for High Prieft ; but prevents another Objecti- on which they might more plaufibly make; from Exod, 22.28. Thou. | _ fhalt not revile the gods, or bla{phcme the Ruler of thy People. AS if he thould have aid; 1 know you willfay Dhave broken that Law, by >. {peakirg ay Fee | @ © ua Ae ea Pe sir | 4 - nor revile the gods, «Why are they called gods, but becaufe they reprefent peaking evil of a Ruler, but you are miftaken ; the Law doth not for- bid us to {peak evil of Tyrants, or Oppreffors, but of lawful Rulers, ri Fis < <<. See Whe govern in Righteou{nefs, Ido not own himfor HYeh PrieR, or a lawful Ruler (though T-know he fits as Judve) ‘thar will thus wicked ly pervert Juftice. IF he had been aBood and lawful Ruler, E would not have fpoken fo reproachfully of him, as to have called him Whited. walls but-have honoured himg_ bur this man, under the Title of High’ Priest. andggudge,is areal Tyraste and therefote I have noebroken that Law. Sothat Paz/s Anfwer to their Objection, is a vindication of hime felf, and the Conformity of his practice to the Law of God; > 4. And that place which Paul cites out of the Law, Exod’22,28, by the Title given to the Magiftrate, fhews that it means only jas# and. oe righteous Magiftrates, which rule according to God’s Law; Thow fhalt) _ the Wifdom, Juftice; and Truth of God, and arein his Read toexecute | Juttice according to his Word? This Chrift gives for the reafon why. . . they were called gods, Fohn 10:35. Becanfe thetmord of God carse totherm ¢ that is, his Word of Commiution, to execute the Word of hits Judge. ments: but if they do the quite contrary (as this Wicked Ruler) they” reprefent the Devil, and not God ; and as I hinted before,are more fit- ly termed Devils than gads. ‘ ‘5. This Text which Pasi! mentions,doth not forbid any jult and plain reprehenfion of wicked Rulers - To {peak the Truth to, or of them, to tell chem of theit Vices, relate their Abominations, of give them fuch Titles as they deferve. But toflander or reproach good Rulers undefer~. vedly, which wicked men are very apt unto, ‘if they punifh them for their evil doing,’ The word in the Hebrew'is commonly ufed far curf- ing or blafpheming; andin the Greek, évx epas xaxas, Thon {halt not {peak wickedly of a Ruler, Butto fpeak the truth of a Ruler, in reproving him - for his wickednefs, or giving him fuch Titles as are anfwerable tohis Metits; is not to blafpheme or {peak wickedly; for then the holy Pro- — : phets “and Apoftles ; had been euilty of blafphemings and fpeaking 3 wickedly, in reproving wicked Rulets, and ‘calling them by fuch ree. proachful Names as they deferved: and without doubr, the Apoftle Paul. meant not to forbid us to fpeak of Rulers as they deferved ; for’ — he calls Cefar, A Lyox, 2 Tinw4.17. after this, Obje&. Bar doth not Luke give Theophilus, the Title of Most Excel-” Y lent, Luke 1.3. aid Paul give Festus the Title of Most Noble, Aks 26.25 = who was a wicked man, ee ee ee “Sol, The word in the Greek, im both thofeplaces, is, x2¢zis¢, which wordhath a double Ggnification. Semetimes it is taken for the belt; Optimus, z e Fates fe i fi ~ : ue i * = a a A _ 7 5a * di * Pee 2 & = i aap i as i ‘Optimus: and Cometimes for ghe ftrongelt: or molt powerful, Poten/fe—~ miss andit fhould be séndred here, from na7G robur, moft powerful; | - anditis one tilimg to. calla man Powerful, another to call bim Noble, il rc. -~ « Pate SS | i iP Fi * \ 4g a < in ? or Honourable, “Aeman may be Rowerfull and yetnot honourable ; For Honour is due to Virtue not to Strength. Amd therefore T conclude that, - | it may be more rationally interpreted Powerful. than Noble, fince the \ " qword properly fignifies.f04,)°% 8s) ge es “Obed. pi are ep conamanded tg bonesr the King, 1B Honor the King... * Fear God, Sol, We are no-more commanded to Honour the King, than all. other, men for the whole verfexnnsthus, Honenr.all men, ove the Brotherhood; } _ fear God, honour. the King. And*the very fame, word is ufed for the ho-. nour we are-commanded to vive to all others. that is, for the honour we. are to give the King, We muft give honour to whom bonour is due. Rom. | 43,7 Ifthe King be areal King, a lawful Ruler, who Governs-wells. | we are to honour. him, but if he be a Tyrant or, Oppreffor, as: I fhewed, | before, He forfeits his Title of King, and deferves to be called as he is. * Objects, Bue if wicked Kings forfert their Title by Tyranny, and evil Go- -Soluiion, There is-a twofold. fence. in which the word King may be: 4, For a King Regnant, a King de fatto, one that fits-on = wears the’ Crown, {wayes the*Scepter, bears-the Sword, and aQually, § Roles the Land. THis. 3° > a ~. Now wi “Butler 2 Obiect, Baaebr tia D aniel fe that | Court phrafe to falute the Kirgs. | which was a wicked. Ruler, Dan. 6.21. A King, live for ever. Sol. Very likely Dauiel-prayed for his Eternal Life y For though the | “neff of the Courties$ ufed it as a vain formal complement, yet in regard: oe ee “ae ee : 7 vernment, why then are they cailed Kings ftill_as long as they po (els zk | 2, Asightful King, or-a-King dejure, one that hatha right*to do all. | < : , * TAS es * hel <4 t | cked: Kings. are called Kings in the former fence, but are: ot called fo in the latter. They are Kings Regvast, but_net Right- | _ fulKings: They have not theirname from any rightthey pave tothe: | ‘Government, but becaufe they are poffeffed of it, and,atthe prefent | are fuffered ky God and the People te fiton the Thrones Even as the | Devilis.called the God of thig World, Decaufe he doth aually bear mufe; | un the heatts: of the men. of this world, net that he iswsiehtful Ruler. | aver them, but becaufe he hath them at*his commandunderhis Power, _ and is generally received by the men of this.World-for their:God and | a 2 | sis andi Wiehenta® od : mi iki ly that f Goat oma ‘the Words Wi. “beara good fence, itis hkely that 10: diya men ag Dz ‘mel.méant in the belt fence, Kd Os wifhed his Siena tar 2g of? ate have meant vainly as the reft'of the Courtiers did, it was his : Failing ; as it was Fofephs to {wear by the Life of Pharaoh; andis not dmitable by us. We SEM Gate TC ghbtl SS gt eee * “Objecd. Bur doth noe the Apple Peter make it one of the Chareilersof thofe who are unjuft, and are referved to the day of Fudgement ,to be punifheds that they defpife Governmsent and [peakzeuil of Dignities? -- 2. sLp48 2. [2 | Sol. ‘Itis one thing to defpife Gévernment, another thing,to, dey : fife Tyranny. Goverriment is as T have thewed before, from Gods Ty- : - ranny from the Devil. We may not defpife lawful Rulers, fuch as.exe- cute Juftice, and rule in the Fear of God; but we may defpife thofe ~ Rulers who Opprefs, Murder and-Deftroy the-People. *.—~. ..0 Again, though we may net {peak reproachfully of Dignity, or Glory, (as the word'fignifies ) yetwe may of Tyrariny. For there is no digni- ty in Tyranny, itis the higheft indignity in the ‘World. We may not “(peak reproachfully of:Government, becaufe itis Gods.Ordinance for. | our good, and there’s much Dignity or Glory in Gods Zaffitution, But we may of Tyranny, becaufe it) is an Invention @f the Devil and wicked Men, for our hurt, and is.a vile abominable-thing, chateful .to Goran Nie oe ee. But thar may clofe this particular’ of@he Honour due tothe Magi- ftrate... ! ; ga ee oe foe earte ee = 3. A wicked Magiftrate hath no right to that Hefaour or ‘Reverence, -. which is due toa good Magiltrate, ‘in the external geltures of the Body. — . “A Proud; Tyrannous, Lordly Magiftrate, who forgets his Relation of beiag a Servant to the People, and hath his heaet lifted up above his ‘brethren, contrary to the’ Law of God,” Dest. 17120. forfeits his right ‘to that external Reverence, of bowing the HeadorBody, which is, due ‘toa humblé, painful, and faithful Magiftrate, Therefore it was, that ‘when Reboboam domineered over the People in that proud infolent man- "ner, they refufed to honour him any longer, ‘but gave him a very dimi- “ putive tiles What portion have wein the Sonof Felfey % King, 12.166 “and bid him look to his own Houfe. And well he deferved to be fo flight-- ed, for doth not the Word of God fay? Bleffed isthe manthat refpecterh — not.the proud, nor {ach as torn afidetolses, Plal. 40.4. = re ue . . Therefore it was that fingle hearted Mordecai would not bow, not do any reverence to wicked Feman though he were the greateft Prince cy -— Vo€-the Emptre, Effer 3.23 And the Ki e -hadcommandedthatallmgn | ‘of Empire, Ejfer 3. 2+ An K sei es ‘howd Poe - Pabate bow and do him reverence; ; AZordecar knew.he deferved no hos moun becaufe he was ayproud and unworthy perlon ti@e tee iar ik » © Bat how fat forth ina cafe of neceflity (when we ¢ nnotavoidit with- out endangering out Lives or Liberties) we may difpenfe with chi¥ Ceremony of boWing the Head, or uncovering it, before a wicked Ma- giltrate, 1s another queftion. “: Ror thoughwe owe hit tofu ch honour, yet we may owe to our el¥es: fuch agetiire, for prefervation ofour Lives or Liberties... Por if Davsd might eat of theShew-bread,for the fatisfaction of hunger, which-was not atherwite lawful, A4at.12.4, F'coticéive We may as lawfully bow the Bo--° dyot/unicgver the Head toa, Ruler, who, doth not deferve it from us, rather than deftroy our felves?; as-one.would to.a Thief on the high way: _ yather than be killed or wounded,. sa rua (Gh es ee # ee | c Z 3 *~, i « : ‘ a ee : ¥ % F . 2 eS | eee sae: i ae Sete} a : . ; f is % , A : : : ig - i " ee SiS tae "=e ’ €«# é e Ry . iy ' : 2 - e i i 2 ; p Be > oe 6 ¢ ’ P ¥ i < “ Bite F ; 4 ; * ae aie ee Ce s 7 . ra a 4 Py PF 0% pare “ é H s/ ‘ ee Le Ses iis sm" 5 -~ Ze ape Be , . 2 y 2“ 3 . ~ oe Z j “ eh 6% J Gt eae i a oe ‘i ae ae Sa if et Be, f oe = eis Ay . ¥ = , ae) \ $3 hs 5 ) 7 .2 a= § : — * * eh ae | . a nt Ae te ogee as ge a a Page Ep Sk S : xyes Se pike y E> . ‘ ot 5k Fett # . sie | ; 34 : 3 BL Cy € ie 4% ks Loge eo ye p> a | gee , *y- - ; = Treating of the Obedience due tothe Magiftrae® N ra | “we Am now-cometothe lat Particular: mentioned in, the Defcription: Bl LC ee ee eee ee ~\ ‘Phé Obedience whichis due tohim,, which Ithallrefolve,, Birt, Pofitively.. fe ake 2 q) , OS Bebonaly, Nepal yes) Cos cs ed ae) eal iw As ee 9 se. -Pofitively, To follow the: commom receiwed Diftingtion of: Obe-. diene AQive and Paflive,we owe both to a lawful Magiftrate, in all his. ae * 2 ee ite jot ahd lawful Commands. LG Ge. Mien Sty ee eee ek | "" Birfh, Te the Magittrate commandyus.to: doany.thing which he hath: Authority from Godand the People to command, we are bound'to ebey- him actively es If he command us fo perform Our part in th@®carrying an: | of Juftice sto affiit in.apprehending a Murderer, to.be of a Jury.to make: _ Fnquifition for Insocenr Blood, to. teftify the truth between a man ands. “his n4ighbourin:cafe of injury.; to. keep. Watch: or ward: for defence of: - the Land ‘from Porreign-or Domeftick Enemies;-and abundance of other ». “eafeg might be mentioned, “wherein the: Magiftrate ig*not able to-per.. j form the Truft repefed in him, unlefs. the People do.their Dutyalfo. “Tf the Magiftrate command us to-depart from: any, vitious Aflentbly,. to reftore any man his-due, to obferve yt Weights and Meafures in our ‘commerce, tokeep the Peace, to render himtuch Tributeas is due, or- } ; - : > =~ “- %0 obey any ie juft and ai pevicc i t is our duty to yeeld @ aed cheatfubobedience thereto, sone er . Secondly, We are:bound to obey nt Palfively, if we Kae by. our’ | | ‘Franiee pns fallen under the condemnation of any jut and righteous Law. Ifa Man or Woman have committéd Theft, Murder, Adultery, Perjury, Extortion, or any other wickedpels. purifnable by the Law, and. be. Proust t before the. Magiftrate, - who is by Gad and the People ¢ ene. tufted with the Sword, for the pumifhmenc thereof ; it is, their duty patiently’ to fubmit to fuck punifhment, as chey have deferved. » gWhether one may not lawfully fly and with- draw himfelf peaceably, 5 if ‘he be: guilty. of Punifhment, ‘efpecial}y i ina cafe. of Life and Death, is a Queition have not time to difccurfe here. hd But to make apy violent refiance, or forcibly to ‘oppofeghe Maci- ¥ “aes tg, in executing jut ye nae upon us for our evil Deeds, is ute aerly unlawful. : oo. Thus far I grant the Scriptures Gonitache us to ebey! Maviftrates 2 rs | Aively, In performing all-theirju@ and lawful commands ;- “paflively, ae 11Y ig id to. fuch due pusifment as they inflict hal us for daing. oo ev - / FP And this’ is the fubmiftion. Peter (peaks oF, 1 Prt. 13, 143 Sub. as ait your {elves to every Ordinance of man for the Poids bo whether it be a te the King? Us. Supream, er unte Gowernours, asunto-them that-are fen & by : him; for the punifhment of evil doers, and pra ‘fe Of them. that do weh ~~ Mank well the Submiffion the Apolte “requires, we™are to Abate ‘to: ‘ghote Governours, that come for the. i Pusnifiment tf ¢ evil doers, and i Praife a g themthai do well. _- THe fame dorh the Apoftle Paul teach, Rom: 13,4. ¢ For lh ts the Sheosiieg (or fervant) of God. to thee for Loos: wt if thou do evil,beafraid, for : bee barei h not the Sword in vain, for be is the Serpiaas of ' God, a ‘Revenger to : execu wrath upon him that doch evil. Wherefore J Je afl needs be fubjety, ‘oe not Asa for wrath, but for Confcience fake. Tris not left go otf liberty, whether we will be fubijete orno, to thofe. “Macifirates chat: pum(h evill doers,and prailgr here that do well, buts in Point | i Con{cience We are ‘bound to be fubje@-unto them. is Indeed, the very Light of Nature teachech fubjeAion to finch mote: ~ Moursy as p inifh Vice and pfaiie Virtue: and to refiftthe Magiftrate: an the due punifhing of Vice,, or praife of Virtue, is nor only a ‘Viola. ae of the Law, of God,. ee in the Scripuirgs: of Trach, but of the Law: of Nature, written in the’ hearts. of aft mankind.’ But ‘the: ' -greaielt Queftion willbe, wharobedience we do not owe fo the-Magi- Rrate- for Ieneed not fpend my time. and pains to spree: that vhich: : 8. f0. ¢ lear. i 2, ae ~ we - —e ~ . + ’ Pa m “ » . * Servant. ee ee oe ee Wherefore ye wuft needs be [ulget, Rom. 13.5¢ NVnat means & ‘whérefore? it relates to ver.4. F or he t¢ a Servant of God TO thee, AS OE ‘RgNepatively, Laffirm as followeth. een ere . Pine Obedience due to the. Magiftrate from the People, is 110 fer- vile obedience, brit a free, liberal and ingenuous Obedience + It 1s not the obedience of Servants to a Malter, ‘but ofeFree-men togtheir own - Ss What means that if he fhould have faid ; Therefore ye mutt needs be fubjeS, becaufe he is a fervant of God To Tox for good. Magiltrates ought to command the People not ma lordly, proud, - magifterial manner, asif the People Were their Vaflais, ‘but-in a humble, modeft, minifterial ‘mariner, as being Servants to God and them whom they de command ; mixing Entreatie$ with Commands. Thug did Mofes weat the People, in are- Tpectful manner, entreating them as ‘well as commanding, Nuamb.306.. 26. Thus did Nehemiah, chap.5. 10,11. Yeapthe very wicked Kings ‘themfelves had not fo much forgotten their relation, but they remem- ‘bred to fpeak refpectively to the People, F Sam.23.22. 1 King.20.7. 2Kings5.7. But now every inferiour Officer commands us “after ® _. 2. The obedience due to the Magiftrate is not excenirical to his Of... |, ‘fice ; if the Magiftrate command the People to do a thing tharis im tt felf lawful, yet if it bz extrinfecal to his Officé, the People owe him no obe- - dience therein ;. becaufe he hath no power to’command us afiy thing “befides his Office. We owe the Magiltrate obedience in every lawful. | ‘Command, but notin every lawful thing. For it is unlawful for qpe ‘Magiftrate to command us many lawful things. Irmay be lawful fora man. te take the Magiftrate’s daughter.to wife, ora woman to take his “fon for her husband;6utif he commands them to do fo,they are net bound ' ~ to obey him, becaufe he hath no power to give {uch a Command. It | ~ may be lawful for any one to lend the Migiftrate his money, or goods, | ammnthen cuNey t yet if the Magiftrate command’aman to desfo, heis | mot bound to ebey him. / 3, Weowe the Magiftraté no finful obedience. To dbey him citi } _ than God, is a moft Atheiftical, practice. Daniel would not obey-Da- | aris has wicked Command, Dan, 6. 10. Danel prayed the more boldly | io _ andopenty, becaufe the King had forbidhim. Hananiah, Mifbuel, and | = Axariah would not fall down to Mebuchadnezzar’s Tmage, Dan, 3-16, “© tor9, The Apoftléswould not forbear: preaching for the Command’ of the Rulers,, but continued in their Work, notwithftanding all their | threats, Aéls 4. 19, 20, they told tht High-Prieft and Council, rhur | they would preach : And when they Were. apprehended aefin for Prezch- : | ing, * eo eer ect ). ing, Aits 5. 27.-They told the Rulers. plainly, thar they ought t. God rather than them, and charged thet with the murder. of Ch phely Gass ok rh ee a ee If Magiftrates;command us to perfecute the Lord’s People,to opprefe the Innocent, to hale the faithful Servants of God té Prisons, to be tips | on the Guard while tiey {ptf innocent blood; to prevent any from “re. - {cuing: fuck: as- they intend*to ‘murder, were not to obey them but | ibddls Wate ee er oo a Se ee ee pen "4. We owe the Magiftrate no paffive obedience or fubjection, in cafe. “fhe injure or opprefs us. If we have done that which is evil, we are . Bound tofubmir our felves to the Magiftrate, asthe Servant of God'and. the People, to execute Wrath upon us; but if he punith us for doifie. well, opprefs the Innocent, -and pervert Juttice, we are not bound to: fubmit our felves to him, but may lawfully reat him, Which I prove- x, Becaufe the Law of God doth not command us to be fubje@'to the: Magiftrate, or,forbid us to-refift him, if hz opprefs-us, and offer vio-. Jencetous. Now fiz 4 4 tran{grefficn of the Law, 1 John 3. 4. and’ where there 4-no Law, there # no tran{greffion, Rom.4. 15. Butall the - Prelaces'in Exgland.cannotgproduce any Law-of God, ‘which forbids us. to defend-our jelves: from the injury, or injuftice, of the Magifttare, ox: to refilt hi® in our own defences. Pe tet Bethe 56st oe : kee _» The great piace they urge to provethe unlawfulnefs of: refiftance, is: that, Rom.13. Letus therefore take a furvey of that place, and fee if: there beeany injunction to obey an unjult or opprefling Magiltrate, or. any prohibition toseffthim, ee ES ~ And tiuly we fhall find juft as much reafon frem thatplace for fub-. jection and obedience toa wicked opprefiing psifecuung Magiftrate, as from 1Theff.5.12,13. 1 T1.5.17,Heb,.17.17. tor obedience and fub-- ‘tmiffion to an ignorafit, proud Sgperfecuting Minifter: The Apoftle com mands usta obey them that have therule over us,. and {ubmit ovr felves-to- them, becaufe they watch for our fouls, that they maybe ablesto render an account. of then coords Joy 19. 0H7 falvation: Willie follaw therefore, we mult obey and fubmit to-fuch Minifters.as would porfon and deftroy our: fouls, and lead tis to Hell and Damnation? The Elders rhatrule‘well'are: worthy of double honour, efpecially thofe-who labour 1a the Word anda. Dittrine> Will it-follow therefore rhage muft give double honour to the Elders- ‘who rule wickedly,. and -laBour not m the Word and Doétrine Pe The véry fame doththe Scripture affert concerning Magiftracy. a - gommands us to be: fabjebt tothe Magiftrate, and tells'us why : forsne ss: the Servant of God toms for good, he is-one'that wall praife us if we.ae sede : tO : * and he isnot a terror to good-works, but to evil: Willie follow therefore we tt be fubje@ to.a Magiftrate, whois a terror te good works, and apraifeto evil; that punifheth good men, and praifeth wicked men 2 What | - g ridiculous, irrational Argumentis this ? — But to lay open the’ folly of _. this Inferenée alittle more plainly and diftin@ly, et * _ 1, The Power the Apoftle foibids us to rehity isy The Ordinance of God: but a Power to opprefs, or do injuffice, is none of God’s Ordi- mance, but the Devils; therefore we may refift that. . God hath or-_ - dained no Power t0-oppre{s or injure the People ; and therefore in sg- Gifting Power that oppreffeth us, we cannot refift God’s Ordinance: - ee ee. ee. Ph a The holy Spirit reprefenting he tyrannous Kings of the fourth Monar- chy, by a beaftly cruel Moniter, Rev.13.1,2. tells us, that the Dragon, or Devil, gave them their Power. Lawful. Power to execute Juftice,and protect the People, ig derived from God. Tyrannous Power,to do In- | juftice and oppre{s the People, is derived from the Devil. Now er | to refit that Power whieh 1s derived fromthe Devil, is not to refilt | God’s Ordinances nay,°ic 1s blafphemy againft Godtofayfo. =| 2. He that-refifteth the Power Paul {peaks of, fhall receive to him- ‘felf damnation or judgment. Therefore itis clear he means not an un- quit nhs Tiina! Power, but a juftfrational and righteous Power. Ty- sants-and Oppreflors:have been often reGiftéd by the Lord’s People, as I fhall-fhew anon out of Scripture.. Andthe Freach, Bohemians; Scots, | and moft, if not all tlie Proteltant Nations,. have refifted the oppretling Power of their wicked Rulets. Thofe confident and faithful Witnefles ef Chrift,th: Waldexfes, have frequently oppofed their unrighteous Ma-* ‘giftrates, by force @f Arms, and now lately done the fame; andthink | -youthey fhall all receive damnation for refifting that Power, which is _ _- derived from the-Deyil? or for refifting Tyrants, which are not God’s but the Devil’s Vicegerents?. 7 | Pe 3. The Power the Apoftle forbids us go.refift, is Power thatif we.do Well, we fhall have praife of the fame; ‘Rom.13, 3. but an oppreflind unrighteous Power,.doth not praife us when we do well, therefore we | may refit that, An unjuft*Power will praife thofe that doevil, and | difpraife thofe that do well, ~aswe fee moftevidéhtly at prefent.. = * +4. The Magiftrate Panl forbids us to refift, isone who isa Adinifler Or Servant of God to ws for good: but am unrighteous, oppréefling Magi- | {trate is Servant of the Devil tous for ty therefore We May refit . RY sa 5s The Rulers we are forbid to reGit, ate fuch as are nota terror to. good works, but to evil, Rom,13.3.. But Tyrantsand Opprefiors are not a terror to cel works, bai to goods therefore Welkayseht them, 3 Pre ; cA a: ; eg — < | 6. be a « * ~ (93) - 6. The caufe why we are commanded to be fabjed to, arid forbid to refit a Righteous: Magiftrate; doth nor ‘agree’ to an Oppreffor: for if you obferve the reafon' which the Apoftle urgeth all along that difcourfe, ~ for fubjeGion to the Magittrate, cannot be applied to an Oppreffor. He that refifteth, faith the Apoftle, (hallreceive to himfelf damnation, One mightanfwer, This is avery hard faying, that you fhould threa. ten us fo feverely, if we refit: birt fayes the Apoftle, Confider well | the reafon, and you fhall confefs there’s reafon enough forit; For Ru- lers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Wilethou then not be ~ afraid of the Power ? Do that which is good, and-thou (halt have ptaife | Of the fame: for he % the Minifler of God 10 thee for good, ‘ver. 3, 4. Indeed if I threatned you for refitting Tyrants or Oppreffors, who are a terror to good works, and a praife to evil; who are enemies to you, and teek your hurt, you might fay it were a hard fayine ; but fince I forbid you to refilt only thofe that praife you when you do well, and _ are Servants to God and you for your good, you have no reafon to fay I fpeak harfhly; for it is a great wickednefs to refift righteous Magi. x {trates. | 3 ! Wes TUS 7 | Again, when the Apoftle bids us be afraid of the Magiftrate, if weda evil ; -he gives us this reafon for it: for he w the CMinifter, ox Servant, of God, a Revenger, to execute Wrath npon hime that doth evil, v, 4. Wheres fore ye muft nceds be fab ject, not only for Wrath, but for Confcience fake, ver, 5. Buc this’ can lay no obligation upon: our Conicience, ‘to be fib.” —gect unco one who is a Servant of the Devil, to revenge him upon thofe that do well. eo 3 ws ae )« Solikewife (ver.6.) he tells us the caufe why we are to pay Tribute to Magiitrates. For, for this canfe pay ye Tribute, becauferhey are God’s _ Minifters (or Publick Servants) attending continually upon this very thing. _ Whac thing is that ? that which he had mentioned before: [ They are God’s Servants, continually attendteg upon your good, to praife thofe that do. well, co pumijp thofe that do evil : and this ts the canfe why you are to pay thems Tribw:e.| But there’s no fuch caufe to’acknowledge unrighteous Ru-. . lers,’ but one may plainly invert the words thus: For this canfe pay them wo Tribute, for they are the Devil’s fervaats, continually attending upon this very thing, to injure and opprets you. | eis So that I conlude there is né reafon or caufe why we fhould be fub- - ject co Oppreflors, and therefore no obligation. ; Odject. But doth not the Apostle mean Nero, becaufe he ayes, Let every received, that Nero foul be {ubictt ro the higher Powers 2: now itis generally wes the bi chest power when the Apostle wrote this Epa. 2 A Ge os: Sol, 4, There are very learned ity who do affirm otherwife ; that Te | {nis i — x € 743 | this Epiftle. was-written in the dayes of Claudius Cefar; but becaufe. Hiltories are fo various, I (hall noc infitt on that. oe | ’ 2, Suppofe ithad been written inthe. Reign of Nero, eitherit was: - Written in the firft five years of his reign, while he ruled well, or after- wards, when he turned Tyrant. If it were-weitten in the firftfive years of his reign, and we fhould: allow that the Apoftle means Vers, yet this doth no way contradict what I have aflerted;, That it istawful to rea fifi Tyrants or Oppreffors.. For while he ruled well, Ifhall grant, that it- was unlawful to refitt him. But if it were written after the time that. - Nero.turned Tyrant, which is that the advocates of Tyranny would | fave, I utterly deny that the Apoftle means. Wero,for thefe reafons.. Firft, Becaufe the Properties of this Power which the Apoftle fpeaks: ef, do nomore agree with Nere,after he turned Tyrant;then the Proper-. ties of Light with Darknefls. The Power Pas {peaks-of, is.a praile to. | them that do well,. andaterrourto them that doevil-- but Mero was: then one of the greateft terrours.to them that did well, that ever wass inthe World:;.the greateft A¢urderer of the Saints, that filled the! frets with the dead bodies of thofe that did well. The Maviftrate Peal: {peaks of, Js a Servant of God.torhe People for good, Nerowas the great-- > e(t plague, one of them, that ever was.both to the Church of God, and: the whole world ; one that murdered Mesators, Citizens, Chriftians, | Kiadred, allmanner of perfons; filled the Rivers with Chriftian-blood, _ ~ Secoudly, The Magiltrate Ran! {peaks of; isone whom we are to bo-: ROUY 9 veil, 7 ie but. Baul himfelé. {peaks reproachfully of dNers, and-callge |. -Sem Lyon, 2, Tias4.17. Nay, Fhirdly; - - ===. abated -<. | . By this interpretation, the Sevateof Reme mutt be. damned, becaufe.. we——they refifted Were, and condemned him to. 2 moft fhameful Death ;: | which aétion of theirs was never difapproved:of, by any man that had. : not loft his, Wats-or Con{cienee,..or both, as-it isto be feared moft of - _ the Prelates have, before they undertake to plead for Tyranny. - | Butlconceiveit to be meant, meither-of Nero (in the time while he- reigned well, nor in the. time of his Tyranny) ox any other particular. Governour, ot Governours, butsof Government in the general, as. —- the Ordinance of Ged, and true Magiftrates, who are conformable: therseto.; as indeed the whole Series of arguments, whichthe Apoftle: ‘thereufes, dothevidence. The Apoftle in-that Chapter,gives us a fum-- mary of the Doctrine of Magiftracy; the Lord knew that his. Church. wouldincreafe, and thatthe multitude of Believers would be more and: more auginented, till the Second coming of Chrilt , and therefore he» ~ left rules of Magiftracy, ‘to direét Chrittians howto behave themfelves:, | in conformity to that Osdinance. - The Apoftle doth molt perfpicucuf— | ly ly lay down the Nature and End. of Maciftracy’s the duties of Maci«~ firate and People, Rulers and Ruled; with the grounds and reafous, _| thereof; Shewing Chriftians what isthe Magiftrates Rélation toGod and them; and what isthe: banifirand advantage of this Ordinance gi _and perfwading them to live in fubje@ion to thole;»whogovern accora: ~ | - ding tothe Rules of Magiftracy :' buthere-is nota word of Tyrauhy, or {ubjection to Tyrants tobefound, © : And whereas he bidsus,: Be (abjett tothe Higher: Powers, that alto makes it plain that he meant not Nero, or any other particular perion s for he puts itin the Plural: Number, taking in all dawful:Gevernours- whatfoever, as well as the chief Magiftrates andic were better render- ed, the Super-eminent Aathoritiess or, the Aathorities that are ovet uss. and fo Judges, Mayors, and other tubordinate Governours, are as fi tly termed Auchovities over us, ‘as the -Supteam Magiftrate ; they are as much the Ordinance of God ashe, Servants of God tonsfor good,and ap=. pointedmepunith Evil-doers,and a praife to chem shacdowell; andthe: chief Mamgiftrate is not the bighe/ Power, for the Peoples poweris.above | his; they make him, and maintain him, and can depofehim if-he- deferve it 5 as the Senate of Rome did. Nero for Nero was not the hieh. eft Power of: Rome, but the Senares Power was above. his, and for his | Tyranny they condemned him to a moft Shameful Deah ;toavoidwhich> herenesared ile 2 so 914) 1-8 bs IOI ON sed OF eh leg © Objet. But doth not the Apofle command usto be {ubjett tothe Powers. ,. | that are? it feems by that, that whofoever have the Power we mult be fi ubject: | to them, good or bad Governours. die Fee oe ~ Sol. No fuch thing: For the word tranflated Powers, inits proper — and native fignification, is, Authorities, or lawful Powers, Exsias ; and the whole fcope of the place fhews plainly, the Apoftle means no other : Powers but jx/,rational, and good Governoxrs, Who areaterrour to,evit works, anda praifeto good. The Apoftle: doth not intend to aflert Ty- os “ryanhy, or teach us that the unrighteous Powers of the Earth, are the | Ordinance of God ; but he means the righteous Powers thatare, fuch as God hath ordained for the Good of mankind, = : “Objekt. But we receive [ome good from murs beeows and oppreffing Mags 3 Prates,and thou gh they do not fully come up to the duites God requires a therm, | yet they defend us from T heeves and Muarderers,and tt better then it would. be if there were no Magiftrates s for then me could not live, no man could | have any affurance of anything he calls his‘ Own s and for that good we 1e= 3 ceive from them, we are to be fubjeth to them, ik _ -©£Sol, 1. This Obje&tion I confefs hath been traditionally handed from: | ene toanerher » and beem received by thofe who fee more with sais roe | 157 Ss oe mens L2 TOT TTS ey oe a ee eee aT st > SSS SS F pte ee A ‘ f s : © ~ « i" ak 1 i et "i ate -mén’s.eyes'than their own. But whereasic is pretended that Tyrants do. us fome good in defending us from Theeves and Murderers; I cannot ap=~ ptehend that; it is but Grates difium,for they are fo fanfrom defending us. ffom them, that they. make 7. heeves and Alurderers,by deftroying Trade, - et ‘andvoppreffing the People* with unreafonable Taxes, and Exactions; and. being patterns to.others in Profufenefs. and Prophanefs, they daily en-. create the number of Theeves and Murderers in the Land; yea, wicked. Godernours, are the principal Caufe of Theeves and Murdexers. . 2, Andno wonder they fhould.make Theeves and Murderers ; for. they are Captains:and Leaders.of that Troop; Lheeves and Murderers. “learn of them:« What are-thofe. cruel, Exactions, that.they lay upon us. ‘tomaintain their Lufts, but public k Thefts 2 and doth not the Blood of. ‘the poor Innocentscry out againft them, as A4urderers 2 yea furely, the. "Voice of the Blood of thofe hundreds thefe men have mu rdered by fil-. = jg nor becanfe they do us fome good, but becaufe they are Servants to us, for good, Rom.13.4. Itis a madnefs to faythey are Servants to usfor — them.’ Tyrants are the: ereateft Theeves and Murderers.of.a thy Prifons; for-obeying . God’s Commands, ctyes. aloud: againfh 3, We are not. at all beholding to thém., for, fuppreflans ab nifhing “Theeves and Murderers now. and then, Bor firft, They are. Partial; fome Theeves and Murderers they.wilfnot punifh, burit, _ they have Money, they «may be eafily fet at Liberty, by one fubul: E- vafion on ober. Secondly,. Thofe they do, punith.,.are, moft of their own making, as I fhewed before, Thirdly, And they encreafe more, contiriually, Hang-one, and make two.” And, Hourthly,.They do worfe themfelves than thofe they do.punith,. AndLafily, . lf we were.rid of; . Tyrants, ana Oppreffing Governours, we could.take cate our felves, to fet, up fuch as would execute Juftice impartially, and meither rob nor mur. -— derus: themfelvesy-nor {after others to doit 3 -both. which. thefe wicked. ba q dood, .becaufe they do fome good. Would you fay. he were a Servant; for good to his Mafter, thatavoula rob him, and take-away. his goods to, fpend upon his lifts,:and lay violent hands upon him, i!-he (hould re- prove igim, becaufeé he woul d.woik fometimes, and.keep other Theeveg, outof the houfe’s he isia Servane for good thar fulfils-his Relationyand. erforme'the duty ofa ServantsAnd foinmis concerning theMagiftraresig he dothat good. which a,publick Servant. tothe People is bound to.do,he : is a Servant to them for Good, «Ifhe oppréfs,en/lsve, impoveri[baper fecate, them, though he may do-fome-good, »yet.he isnot a Servant to them, fer good, and they owe him-no fubection, An. opprefling Magiftrate,, neither, a ae . : a - ( 77 i) Ree - x os neither keeps his Refation of a Servant ‘5 the People, nor anfwers the’ End for whtch he was made, Therr Good ; but makes himfelf their Lord, - and feeks their hurt ; andthe little good he doth, doth not compen- - face for the-sreat yah: eee ate eR eee) hy 9 We are commanded to be fubje& to the Magiftrate, not becaufe oft . fome good he doth, but becaufe he is a Servant to us for good indefinite-| ly, that is, all the good which his Office enjoyns himtodous. =< 5. The Apoftle gives this reafon, why we thould not refilt the Ma- oiftrate, becaufe we need nor fear him if we do well, but fhall have praife of him, verf-3. now thougha Tyrant may pcofhbly do fome good, . yet we cannot have praife of him when wedo well, nay we carry our Liberties and Lives in our hands, when we go about the bett Duties. We cannot meet together, to ferve God a he hath commanded us, but - weare in danger of the lofs of our Liberties, Livelihoods,nay and Lives *~ alfo; for many have caught their Deaths in Prifons of late. Therefore this pretetice of fome good, ts buta meer airy notion, inltead ofan Arm punicnty) Ste Se Go ee ee ee _ 6.. And faftly, The Apoftle gives this for the reafon why we are tobe fubject to Magiftrates, and’pay them Tribure, becaufe they conunually attend tpon this thing ; that is, doing juftice, and feeking our good,’ verf, 6, not becaufe we receive forme good from them, as the pretenders affirm ; but becaufé they make ic their work, and continual enceavour to dous goods” Affidue rncumbentes, fome sender it, but] fuppofe it Be might better be rendrec, fortiter inflantes, the werd denotes, vehement < perfeverance-: they put all their might and ftrength (conftanily ) to the performance of their Bmty. Bucbe that neglects the-greateltpart of his Duty, and is carelels in his Office, or continually epprefling us, though he thay poflibly do fome good, hath no right to {ubjection-or t= bute fromithe Peopleseie™ foe 1) et. Vid oles! ig So that you fee plainly, what kind of Power God hath forbid.us tote. £At, and what Rulers he hach commanded us to be fubyettunto, | APowertharis juft, rational, and profitable to us-; but an unjnit; arbitrary, tyrannical, or oppreflive Power, he hath not commanded us to be fubjedt into. Rulers, Magiftrates, that execute ultice, punifh, evil doers, praiféthem that dos well, and are Servants cous for good; - we mutt needs be-fubject ape aes e eae fake ; but no. command ‘te Cubmitto.Tyrants.or Oppreflorss = Ser og oe ee ee Sith fame strict is be made to that im 2 Pet..2.,.13, 14. that. though the Apoftle commands us, tofubmit.to fuch Governours, as are fent for the punifhment of evil doers, and:praife of them that do well . yet hedoch not command us tofubmit to fuch as punifh, us for sol ‘ ' ; — see ae Cu, gaan Oy 7 : mee re \ ibe ‘wee | at. or. re us. And fo we are to anderftand afl other cet that (peak of.obedience and fubjeétion to Magiltrates, they| mean tigh- 4 teous Magiftrates,. not Opprefiors.. 2. A fecond Argument to prove that we owe the Magidtrate no pal- five obedience, in cafe of Tytanny,or Oppretion, but may sarstully ie- faft him is this. , ‘That which ihe Law of Nature teacherh all men to “he ‘cannot be wlan But Nature teacheth to refi if all that ¢ come to Onrel or Pine, us, As we (But Natu : the. Magifirate as others’; 1d herefore wt cannot .be walavful. If a Magiftrate fhould offer.violence to. any Warman thiltiby, and ~ untefs the fhould yceld her Body to him, threaten co kill her, will not. ‘Nature it felf teach her to refilt him and detend her felf ifthe can? . Ifa Magiftrace who ought to Proteé&t me and my Relations ,Will come. to- Murder my Wife and Children, doch not Nature comunand Me to, “defend them, andrefifthim? — . - Nature teacheth all creatures to refit injury, and Pcl nd. theant elves : . one way-or other; and who would be fo childifhas to afirm, that. Reafon. - teacheth men to lay afide Self-defence, and iuffer others co deftroy us, under a pretence of Authority >? If we confult with Reaionit will tell. us, that the wickednefs of 2 Magiltrate in oppreffing us, who is our Ser- "want to protect us, 1s. far greater rthan the Wickednefs of one. private per- fons. oppreffing another. 3.We have. feveral pr efidents in Scrpiute of the Lords. Reales thes, have refitted wicked and tyrannous Governourss. . David refitted Saul, whe fought bis Life unjufily. echo being Sauls Servant went away without his leave, yea contra. ry to his will, x Sam. 19. 10, - 2: ble raifed an Armyto defend himfelf, 1 Sam, 22.2. If it be faid, tly came to: him voluntarily; J anfwer, sans is nothing to the purpofes : for within Sas/s Kingdom, David headed an Army, contrary tothe will | of the King. He became their Gaptaiz, the Text faith, 3. Itis plain, that David made war in his own Defence : heen _ the Spirit of God faies, Thufe that cametaDavid, cametohim as helpers of the War, x Chron. 12.1, and wer. 17. The Childr em of SONG i : Judah came to help hiss, : g- And the Spisit of God pronounceth. a bleffing. on them that came toheip David againft the Tyranny of Saul, verf. 1 . 5. And God} hunfelf took his part, He helped him, ver{. 18. The Lord. 4 takes part with the poor. Innocent, When they-take up Arms in their own defence againft Tyrants. | Objekt. ) NE an) ; 4 it 4 oot aes te 6 Pe Ee _ Object, But this was an extraordinary Cale, David was ancinted tobe King te fucceed Saul, and therefore he might ufe an extraordinary way to de- ~ fend himfelf, which aeother might not bave dene, Sol. Though Dawid. was. anointed: to. fucceed Saul, yet he did not pretend thereby any prefent right to the Government, or thac he was _ thereby authorized totake up Armes againtt Sas/; but he juftifies his: practife, by his Innocency, 1 Chron. x2. 17. Hz had not deferved to be fo perfecuted by Swu/, becaufe he had done no wrong, and hac he did. - was in his own defence; which the Law of Nature taught him to dos. and thofe thathelped him, came to him as en innocent oppreffed mah whofe Life was fought unjuftly by a wicked Tyrant, 1 Chron, 12.4, they heard hove Sa#/‘hunted after his Life, and made him hide himfelf,. and therefore came to help him; which I fhall thew herzafter is no’ more than tae Lawof God requires the People to do, to deliver the In-. . ‘= - - nocent from the hand of the Oppreffor. © ; | Another prefident we have, 1 Sam, rt, 44, and 45. verfes, |: “When Savi would have put Fonathan to death unjuftly, the People: refi(ted him both in word and deed, Sauf had not onely faid but confirm= édit with an Oath or a Curfe, that Jouathan fhould furely dye. The Peo-' ple fay and twear the Contrary, As the Lord liveth, not one hair of his: head [hall fall tothe ground. And they made good their word,. for: theyre= fened. Jonathan that he died. not, — meee See eee Es § | "So Tikewile Eliha defended himfilf againt King Joram's Tyranny, 2 Kings 6.32. The King fwears he would have Euifha's head from of: | his (houlders before night, fends a Meffenger to apprehend him, and. - follows himfelf at the Meflengers feet, becaufle he would be fure to fee | ~Gtexecuted. Was Elifba bound to fubmir to this-unjult Sentence, and. | --yeeld his neck.to the Tyrant, who came tomurder him, under the pre=. ~ tence of his Authority ? £/i/ha underftood himfelf better tham{o: See ye (fayes he) how thes fon-of a Murderer hath feat to take amay my heads. Gi “Look, when the Meffenger comes, tout the door, and hold hing faft at the NOs < door ; isnot the found of bis Mafter’s feat behind him? Here Was a vi0- ~ dent refiftance of the tyrannous Power of the King, in his own defence. The Septuagent rendersit w2pabrlaoute hrror ey riitope. bruife himint be: door. Astor that pretence, E/:(b4 was a Propber, an. nN; 7 fon, it 1s not lawful foranother to do fo, becaufe Eiijma-aia ; 1018 -fearcely worth an anfwer.. For Elifha defended himtelt asaman, he. — - pretended nothing extraordinary, but refifted one that came to murder, him, which Nature would havé taught anyman in-the world to do.. —Nadindeed if there had been never an example of this nature in Scrip=" ture, yer the very Light of Reéafon were fufficient to determine aS we ee ; . €al€e. 4 / os tie ENA SEAL URES na eS a “e i am 2 " 5 t i | raed — aya, ese Sete ccin, ean Goseeealhd Eeenemmeeaaaemaemmcanes acta ameaatesien amammaeabeaN eae a Van. — ) cafe... Yea, the very Prelates, — 4 or to begear our Wives and Children to fatisfe their Iuft fhould from ee ; . c other ; Advocates of : ‘Fy anny, are forced to confefs, That n many cafes LC isdawfaol, not only for th eb © dy of the People, or the leffer part of them, but fox particular perfons, to gefiltthe King... os Y . : ~ Obj. But doth not the A pofile commandsServants to be fubjelt to evil Ma- a fiers aswell as good, and totake it patiently when they are buffered for doing well? 1 Pet.2,18.Wll it not follow much more that we maxft be [ubjelt to evil J agiffrates as well as goody and take tt patiently, when they punife us for doing well? — Ge a Ge Ce " ee Sa. 1. The fcope of the place fhews,the Apoftle doth not mean an ab- -_ folute or univerfal fubje@tton, in all cafes whatifoever, but in fmaller injuries, which may be eafily born and put up (for the fake of peace and quietne{s) better{uffered than refitted. | | - Ifa Mafter be froward, crofs and crabbed, apr to revile his Servants, and give themevil language, they mult not revile again, or return the like language io their Mafters, which they receive trom them; whichis -the Apottles meaning, as you may fee by compamg ver.18. with 23. : _ Ifa Mafter fhould buffet his Servant, or (as wecommonly termit) _ cuff him about the ears, & xoazgiiuiver, if being cuffed. The Apoftle 4 tells us what kind of injuries he means ; fuch common injuries as may _ better.be patiently fuffered, than violently refitted. Butit would be amadnefs, to argue from this place, thatifa Mafter thould offer to ra- vith his Servant, -or if the cryed out, to cut her thraat, or come with a- fword to kill his Servant, or with aclub to knock his Servant down, _ that the Servant ought to be fubject, and takeitpatiently. So thacif we fhould grant that there is the fame reafon why the Péople fhould fuffer injuries patiently from evil Magiftrates, that there is for Ser- vants to fuffer patiently from evil Matters, ic would prove no more butthis; that wemu(t {ubmit to them infome (malles injuties, which we may put up without any great inconvenience; but not that we- fhould fuffer them to murder us, or our friends, to lay us up in filihy Dungeons ull we are poifoned and ftifled up with the Qink of them, there is no {uch reafon, why the People fhould fuffer. f from Magiftrates, without refiting, as why Servants act Matters ; and therefore the Objection is of no force, - 2, But indeed Injuries pa’ EO: cae | | | «. Godhath commanded Servants to fuffer lefler injuries patiently _ from their Mafters; but he hath not commanded the People to fuffer “Such things from the Magiftrate, . 2. The Magiltrate is nor the Peoples Matter, but (as Ihave proved poe 7 : | before | \ before) theit Servant? and therefore, this place ~praves:rather the cénz. | trary, Thatif the People, who-are in truth and.reality the Magiftrace’s Maiter, thould offer any fefler injury to the Magiftrate who-is their Sera - vant, he ought to fuffertt patiently at their hands. Sothat alwayes the | very weapons which the Kings-men‘fight withal, wound themielves, Alas poo men,they grope at noon-day, and ftumble arthe light, theia own Arguments ftab their caufe to the heart.’ Yea, tly I would de-_ fire no more to prove the tawfulnefs of ‘refifting-a tyrannous and op= 2 preffing Magiftrare, than what they urge apainflir, - Od}. Bus doch noe Chrift forbid. is to reff evil’? Matag.z9. Sol. This place f orbids us'no more'to Tefitt-‘awicked Magiftrate, than. any other wicked man. For there is not a word pecaliar to the Magi- ftrate in this command. .But fuppofe it were appropriate to the Maci- ftrate, rt would prove no more than this, that we are to put up fome ee | lefler injuries, as thatother place requires Servants to do from their ‘Mitters;-and-not return -evilfor evil. Which is-evident-to-bé-ourSa- ; viour’s meaning, | | - : | _ ¥, By the occafion of thefe words. Ye have heard it hath been faid, | Aneze for an eye, and a tooth for g tooth, Thazis, Ic hath been common. : ly judged lawful among you, “to revenge-your felves, anddoto others «© whatevil they have doneunto you: but] forbid this,fayesChrift; ic is an evil thing foto do, you {hall not render evil for evil. And indeed it is no more thin Reafon it felf didtates: far though Reafon teachus to defen j our felves, and not fuffer others to beat out our eyes or teeth, if we can binderit; yet ifaman Should take an advantage, and beat st out my eye or tooth, before I were aware, itwerenot rational forme = to fallupon him and return the fame, but right my (elf in a wifer Man-— | ner. | BAS. SF 2. And the particular cafes Chrift mentions, fhew he means lefler ——— injuries, If one fmsite thee onthe check, patie. Erafmus, Hemfjius, 4 — Scultetus, and other learned men (as Leigh obferves ) underftand its | of ftiking, not with the fift, but the palm of the hand, a box of the | ear, Aud our Tranflators render the word, fasting with the palms of the | band, Matth.26,27. ; | i ae : Another injury Ch ift with violen Ifaman take away.our coat, or compel us to go a mile with him, means, that we (hould rather put up {mall injuries, thereby to Wit mento the Gofpel, than by contending with them, or rendring evil forevil, lofe the opportunity of Erne them to God. wee | 4 | 7 “But © rift would not have us to refift with violence, is, he ik A ad ee 1 ga = ind a. 3 aBurcig wikia vital te words; Refift not Evil, to forbid — a 2 al ipag . io . ? m all Refiftance of Evil, it were impoflible for the World to fubGift:. Forif we may not refitt fes, ravifh women, | a? like’ intoterable ‘evils, ‘we mauft go out of the World, for there Hg ais Aiidheres i500) DAE et ase baSIe vig nomi ye: ji 7 I conclude therefore, that this place doth not forbid a private per-. to the Life, Liberty or Eftate, of himfelf -or others; much lefs doth it forbid the People to refit a for doing well, impoverifhing and: enflaving all. e # & aoe ia RCS = y e* \ « a . _ si ‘e 8 AEA ; ip eo by ? \ :. thofe who.come tomurder us, robus, burn carry away our children for flaves, and do — fon, torefitt: any great and unfufferable Evil, which may be offered - Q@ruel and-Tyrannous Governour, who by his Office «is bound to protect them, and yet moft perfidioufly and ™ eiteroufly, doth opprefs them, murdering fome, imprifoning others, as i Oo TAS ate | NLOSEALUE FIA PSU ATS STW so LN eee Wveems eye ete os Seeker eb Suk pryaraepeesre bey ari te sore ares