The Beautify of Magistracy, Dedication 1 – To the reader 1
THE Beauty of Magistracy, IN AN Exposition of the 82 Psalm, Where is set forth the Necessity, Vtility, Dignity, Duty, and Mortality of MAGISTRATES. Here many other Texts of Scripture occasionally are cleared, many Quaeries and Cases of Conscience about the Magistrates Power, are resolved; many Anabaptistical Cavils are Confuted; and many seasonable Observations containing many other Heads of Divinity, are raised. Together with References to such Authors as clear any Point more fully. By Thomas Hall, B. D. and Pastor of Kingsnorton. With an Additional SERMON on Verse 6. by George Swinnock, M. A. and Pastor of Rickmersworth.
Exod 22. 28. Thou shalt not revile the Gods (or the Judges nor curse the Ruler of thy people.
2. Chron. 9. 8. Because thy God loved Israel to establish them for ever; therefore made he thee King over them to do Iudgement and Iustice.
Qui aliis praesunt, tantò privatis hominibus meliores esse oportet, quan… honoribus & dignitate antecellunt. Panormitan.
I…pii sunt▪ & hostes publicae salutis, qui adversus Magistratus & Ministr…s pugnant; eaque (quantum in se est) rejiciunt vel extinguunt. Calv. in Isa. 3.
London, Printed by R W. for Nevil Simmons Bookseller in Kederminster, and are to be sold by Thomas Iohnson at the Key in Pauls Church-yard, 1660.
TO All the Pious, Prudent, Zealous and Magnanimous Magistrates, Iudges, Iustices, and Gentry, in England, Scotland, and Ireland: Grace and Peace; Preservation here, and Happiness for ever.
My Lords and Gentlemen,
THE Dedication of this Treatise was intended for the Parliament; but that being Dissolved, it most properly falls to You, who are under God the Pillars of the State. Such is the corruption of the Times we live in, that we are put to dispute every inch of Ground with the Enemies of Truth: Magistracy, Ministry, Sabbaths, Sacraments, Trinity, Scriptures, &c. all things are now questioned, nothing believed or practised by many. Formerly I have vindicated Baptism, Learning, and the Ministery; now I am come to a Vindication of the Magistracy. aSatan planteth his strongeft Batteries against the Royal Forts of Magistracy and Ministery; who ever are spared, David and Peter shall be sifted, knowing that he gains a double advantage by their miscarriage, viz. Example and scandal: by which two wings it will soar higher, and flie much further. Swinnock.Many are the affronts and discouragements which faithfull Magistrates meet with from an ungratefull world, as well as Ministers: you are now cryed down (by those Leveling Libertines, the fifth Monarch-men) as Antichristian and Beasts (by those brutish men, Jude 10) as well as we. These are their bV. Standard of the Fifth Monarch-men p. 20.words: The Beast and false Prophet are the wicked bloody, Antichristian Magistracy, Ministry and Lawyers. We are all here shipt together in the same bottom, and must sink or swim together, when these Monsters of Munster Reign. One while we are troubled with Church-Levellers, and anon with State-Levellers; but God hath, and will levell all such as go about to level his Ordinances, and to destroy that Order, which he hath, set up in the World, as you may see in the Treatise, it self.
The sons of Belial may as soon pull the Stars out of the Firmament, as totally root up Magistracy and Ministery. They are the two great standing Ordinances of god, which must stand so long as the world stands (Matth. 28 ult. 1 Cor. 15. 24.Nec Hesperum nec Luciferum formosiorem esse … dixit Aristoteles, Non est major thesaurus, non elcemosyna opulentior, non bonum excellentius, non res hominibus utilior (post ipsum verbi Ministerium) quàm. M…gistratus suum facientes officium▪ Luther▪ They are the Pillars of Church and State, they are like the two Pillars in the Porch of Solomons Temple, called Jachin and Boaz, i. e. straitnes and strength (1 Kin. 7. 21) These are two special properties of a good Pillar, it must be strait and strong; and when Superiors are such, then are they supporters indeed Psal. 75. 3. Gal. 2. 9) The Hebrews have a saying, that the world is upheld by three things, viz. by Iustice, Religion and Gratitude; and when these three fail, world the (say they) decays. But a better then they hath told us,N…cessariae res sunt in rep. bene munitae arces, muri, turres & arma; at nihil sunt haec praesidia prae uno pio Principe, publicae pacis studioso, Luther. that when the Judge and the Prophet are taken away, then comes Confusion and Ruine, Isa. 3, 2, 5. When Sampson would destroy the Philistims, he took hold on the two Pillars, and brought the house upon their heads, Judg 16. 25, 26, 27. Take away these two Pillars of Magistracy and Ministery, and you destroy both Church and State.
The Devil bears an inveterate hatred against these;Pius & magnanimus Magistratus est verè Gygas, qui co…tibus improborum se audet opponere; …ic enim non Hectorem, non Achillem, sed ipsum prosternit Satanam. Luther in Psalm 82. they are the two Butts that he specially shoots at; because by them God doth more especially batter his Kingdom: Where Moses and Aaron, the Word and the Sword go hand in hand together, there Satans Kingdom falls like lightning from heaven, suddenly, universally, and irresistibly. I have experimentally found a greater Visible Reformation in one year (when we had an*Col. Greavis. active, prudent, pious Iustice in the Parish) then in twenty before, notwithstanding all my preaching and assisting of the Officers.
There should therefore be a sweet Harmony and mutual assistance between Magistrates and Ministers, since the one helps to uphold the other, and they are ordained by G…d for the mutual ayd of each other. The Minister wants the ayd of the Magistrate in Temporals; and the Magistrate wants the Ministers ayd in Spiritual and eternal blessings. The Minister hath need of the Magistrates sword to defend him against unreasonable men; and the Magistrate hath need of the Ministers ayd to maintain his authority in the consciences of men, (Titus 3. 1.) This made a Learned Magistrate to say, Were it but for our felves (viz. for the upholding of Magistracy) we had need to uphold the Ministery. Tis State-Policy and Church-Policy so to do; for without Ministers men may live commodiously, but not Piously; and without Magistrates men may live Piously, but not peaceably and commodiously; like stones in an Arch these two help to uphold each other. Hence good Jehoshaphat joyned Princes and Levites together, the better to promote and countenance Religion in the Land, (2 Chron. 17. 8.) Tis a great mercy to Magistrates when they have good Ministers to assist and instruct them, it makes them prosper as King Uzziah did when he had a good Zachariah, who had understanding in the Visions of God, to counsel him, (2 Chron. 26. 3, 4, 5, 7, 8. Hence tis that David had his Seers, Asa his Azariah, Jehoshaphat his Jehu, Hezekiah his Esay, Josiah his Huldah, and Zerobabel his Joshua. These are (or at leastwise ought to be) the Magistrates best Friends, by their praying preaching and example they help to keep off sin and judgement from a Land: Hence tis that the Prophet Nathan is called the Friend of David (1 Kings 4. 5.) and Jehoshaphat calls the Levites his Sons, 2 Chron. 29. 11. and King Joash calls Elisha His Father, as King Joram had done before him (2 Kings 6. 22. & 13. 14.) Such reverence did the great ones of the World of Old she… to Gods Embassadors. In the late troubles we see hiw those places that had faithfull Ministers to instruct them, were ready to venture their lives and estates for the publick good; when the ignorant Welch and Irish, and those dark corners of the earth were habitations of cruelty. An untaught people, are always an untoward people. Let there be no dissention then between us, for we are Brethren. Si collidimur, frangimur: if we dash one against another, we destroy one another. Let there be no interfering or incroaching on each others Offices; but let each keep within the bounds of that sphere and station, wherein his God hath set him. Magistracy and Ministery are … distinct Callings,Magistratus est ordinatio Dei Creatoris, & ad omne genus hominum spectat; sed Ministerium Ecclesiasticum est donum & ordinatio Christi. Mediatoris, ideoque non proriè & jure ordinario spectat nisi ad illos qui de Ecclesia Christi, Ames. Medul. l. 2. c. 17. § 48. as I have shewed in the Treatise it self.
And since the discouragements are many which Magistrates meet withall in the faithfull discharge of their duty: I have therefore set before you the Dignity of your Calling, and shewed how sensible God is of my indignities that are done unto you. Yet lest any should be pufft up with his Honours, the Holy Ghost presently adds the Morrality of Magistrates, and tells them, though they be earthly Gods, yet they must die like men; and though they have been Iudges of the World; yet at last they must be judged themselves: and lest any should pretend ignorance of their duty, in this Psalm, which I may fitly call, The Magistrates Directory, is set forth, 1. Nagatively, what Magistrates must not do. 2. Affirmatively, what they ought to do; with many Reasons dispersed thorow the Psalm to quicken them to their duty. So that I do not know a more lively Psalm for this purpose (all things considered) in the whole Book of Psalms; so sharp and searching it is, that the bare singing of it at Westminster, the Sabbath before the Iudges were to Vote concerning Ship-money, brought the man into question that caused it to be sung: and yet the Psalm was composed (as the Learned conceive) that it might be sung either at the Creation of new Magistrates, or else before the old Ones, before they went to the Judgement Seat.
I have the rather been induced to this work, because I have observed that such as Rulers are, Quales in rep. Principes, tales reliquos solere esse cives, dixit Cicero.such usually are the people: if they be erroneous, the people will quickly follow them, Isa. 3. 12. O my people, Malorum principium sunt mali Principes, Emman. Thesaurus.they which lead thee, cause thee to erre. One sinner (especially in authority) destroys much good, Ecceles. 9. 18.Though vertue be more amiable, yet vice is more imitable, especially in a Prince. One Rehoboam, Ahab, Jeroboam falling from God, and setting up Idolatry, will quickly draw all Israel with them, 1 Kings 12. 28, 30. 2 Chron. 12. 1. The wicked walk on every side in great numbers and swarms, when the vilest men are exalted, Psal. 12. 9.M…gnorum …ominum mediocria non sunt peccata. Luther. The more potent the sinner, the more mischief he doth; they have greater power and more able Instruments at hand to promote their projects and wicked designs. The great red Dragon that hath seven heads, and ten horns, and seven Crowns, i. e. that hath great Potentates to act for him, draweth the third part of the Stars down, and casteth them to the earth (Rev. 12. 4.) i. e. Teachers, and such as by Profession did shine like Stars, yet by the Tyrannical persecution of those great Ones were drawn to Idolatry. Great mens lives are poor mens Laws; they are the Looking glasses by which inferiors of times dress themselves. All their Actions are Examples, and their Examples have a kind of compulsive power: Hence Peter is said to compell them whom by his Example he drew to Iudaism, Gal. 2. 24. What we see, sinks deeper into us then what we hear.Segnius irritant animos demissa per aures, Quam qu…e sunt oculis commissa. Horat. On the contrary, when great men are good men, they do much good; if Asa and Hezekiah be forward in reforming, so are the people, … Chron. 15. 9, 10, 11, 12. & 31. 1. When certain Embassadors praised the Lacedemonian Souldiers for their good Order, who before were mutinous, one of them ingenuously answered, Nos iidem sumus ut nuper, sed alius nunc nobis est Dux. We are the same men still, but now we have another General. This is the very end why God advanceth any to honour, that so they might honour him, Hest. 4. 14.
Twas Vespatians Honour that his greatnessNec quicq…am in te mutavit …ortunae ampl…tudo, nisi ut prodesse t…atundem posses & velles. Plin. Epis. ad Vespat. became more advantagious to him in the promoting of goodness. To encourage you, know, that if you build Gods House, he will build your houses (Exod. 1. 20, 21.) if you advance his name, he'l advance your names; and if you honour him, you shall be honoured by him. We see in all Ages how Reforming Princes have prospered as Moses, Joshua, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah▪ Asa, 2 Chron. 14 2, to 8.See Mr. Woodwards Chronicle of the Good Kings of Iudah. Princeps religionem roborando, ab ea roboratur. Nazianz. VVhat made Q. El…zabeth flourish? Why, she was happy in her Counsellors (by whom she was for the most part ruled) and so grew amiable to her Friends, and terrible to her Foes. Wisdom is better then strength, or weapons of War, Eccels. 9. 18. Romani cedendo vincunt. The welfare of a State is preserved, not so much by a multitude of Warriours,Twas a foul blot upon Chilperick a King of France, that he was Titularis non Tutelaris Rex; de…uit non praefuit Reip. as of Wi…e and Pious Counsellors. Many Souldiers think it needless to Guard th…se who have the long-sword to Guard themselves; but let such know, that he is but sorrily Guarded who hath himself only, and a few fellow-Creatures for his Guardians.Optim…m munimentum est m…nimento ca…re. If God be against you, what good can your long Sword do you? Ezek. 3. 3. 26. Piety and Integrity are the b…st Guardians.
2. Encourage a Learned, Pious and Laborious Ministry. To this end improve your Interest for the buying in of Impropriations, that so every Congregation may have an able Pastor; for we see by daily experience that scandalous means breeds scandalous Ministers. Tythes are no burden to any but such as esteem the faithful dispensing of the Gospel a burden; but for men to Plow and Sow for such as are truly Impropriators, is a great grievance thorow the Land. How many steal the Goose and s…ick down a feather? swallow an hundred pound per annum? and allow the Minister four pound per annum, the blood of souls cryes against such men: and if the blood of Abels body cryed so loud against Cain, how loud will the blood of so many souls cry against these Sacrilegious Cainites? The abolishing also of that Clause in 31. Henry 8. 13. which exempts many great Livings from paying of Tythes, because they paid none in the times of Abbots and Friars, were a very Noble Work, and well beseeming a Parliament; for by this means a great part of many Parishes pay nothing towards the maintenance of the Gospel, and the burden lyes upon a few Tenants and inferior persons, who sometimes pay fifty shillings, whilest the Lord of the Mannor pays not five pence. How many Patrons of Churehes are Latrons, robbing their Ministers whom they are bound to defend?
3. If ever the Lord shall call you to Parliament again, labour to find out some expedient for an Accommodation and the reconciling of Gods people amongst themselves.See Motives and Directions for an Accommodation in D. Boltons Arraignment of Error, p. 340. ad finem, libr…. Unity and Unanimity in Gods Worship (which some look upon as a misery) is indeed a great mercy, and is enjoyned by the Apostle as a special duty, 2. Cor. 13. 11. Be of one mind, q. d. Though there have been divisions and dissentions amongst you, yet now be Unanimous, and live in Peace together. Tis of greater consequence then many imagine.See the danger of Divisions, in Mr Clarks Tract against Toleration. p. 35▪ & 40. &c. Division in the Church breeds dissention in the State, and a State divided cannot long stand. The Apostle would never so earnestly have beso…ght, and so strongly adjured Gods people to Unanimity, had it not been a special duty, Rom. 15. 5. 1. Cor. 2. 20. Philip. 2. 1, 2. The Aut…ors and Fautors of those sad Divisions and sub-divisions which abound amongst us, have much to answer for before the Lord. Tis easily seen at what do…r they come in upon us. The best means that I know to suppress exorbitances in the State, is Parliaments; and to suppress disorders in the Church, is Synods. That Synods are Gods Ordinance, and have been blest with success from God, is confest by all sober men on all hands; and why anaV Cottons Keys, chap. 5 p. 25. and Burroughs Irnicum, ch. 7. p. 43, 44. Boltons Arraignment of er. for p. 266. &c. Ordinance of Christ should lie so long unpractised I know not? How long shall the Church of God lie as a Field without a Fence, and a Vineyard without a Hedge, so that every wilde Beast breaks in upon it? For want of Discipline, what corruption in manners, and Errors in Doctrine like a Flood have broken in upon us, and there is none to restrain them! for want of it young Ministers begin to degenerate both in their Life and Doctrine, since they finde the reins to lie so loose upon their own necks. The Presbyterian Government is that Government which by Covenant we are bound to promote: it being that Government which all the Reformed Churches of Christ do practice; and the onelyonly Platform of Government which carries a Ius Divinum in the forehead of it. S…e my Comment. on 2 Tim. 3. 8▪ p. 174, 175. &c.Let those that can, produce a better Platform; that model of our late dissenting Anonymus (I shall not say Anomalous) Brethren hath made the Breach wider then ever; yea,V. Declaration of the Faith, and Order of the Congregational Churches, 1658. some that wavered in that point, are now convinced of the weakness and insufficiency of their grounds for that way of Independency. We have some Government in the State; yet Church-Government and Reformation ought to be preferred before that of the State, is▪ proved to my hand by a Learned Pen.Mr. Anthony Burgess his Fast Serm. on Iudg 6. 27. Preacht 1645. The Politicians of the World abuse Rulers when they go about to prepossess them with prejudice against the Kingdom and Discipline of Christ, as if twere distructive to the Civil Government; whereas if they would but look abroad into the world they should find that the Rulers of the world have not more free, faithfull, loyal Subjects then those that are truly Religious, and willing to submit their necks to Christs sweet and easie yoke.
4. Restrain that Spirit of Error and Delusion, which like Wild-fire hath spread over all the land.That men should be tolerated to worship the Devil (as tis easie to prove the Quakers do, if we consider the men, the matter, and the manner of their speaking) is very sad. Nothing will please some men, but a boundless Toleration of all sorts and Sects; no Magistrate nor Minister must controul them, all Government to such ungoverned ones is Tyrannie and persecution. How well this Toleration agrees with our National Covenant, wherein we vowed the extirpation of Heresies, and whatsoever is contrary to sound Doctrine, let the world judge. Twas the great sin of Julian the Apostate, that he granted Liberty to Pagans and Hereticks, that by letting such weeds grow, he might the better destroy Gods Harvest. Tis charged as a sin upon the Church of Thyatira,Against Toleration, see an elaborate Treatise of Mr. Clerk, called, Apples of Gold. that she tolerated Jezabel to seduce Christs people, Rev. 2. 14, 20.
5. It were to be wished that some effectual course were taken for the enjoyning of all Governors under a penalty to send in their children and servants, both publickly and privately to be Ca…echized. The gross Ignorance which still abounds in the body of our people is lamentable. Religion makes the best children, the best servants, and the best Subjects▪ as we see in Abrahams Catechized Family, how promptly doth every one there perform his duty? Tis just with God to suffer Inferiors to rebel against their Superiors, when they suffer them to Rebel against God.
6. It were to be wisht that some course might be taken for the better Regulating of Parishes; tis sad to see how unequally they are divided. In many places one Parish comes to another Parish Church-walls, and yet these people belong to another charge, it may be three or four miles off. Parochial Assemblies (if they were made more Uniform and compact) are best both for Pastor and people.V. Mr. Firmin against Schism, chap. 2. p. 39. &c.
7. Free-Schools are very much wanting in many parts of the Nation. Children are the Seminary of the Church; and if the seed be naught▪ the crop cannot be good.
Quest. But where is the means to maintain those Schools?
Answ. Since all is devoured, I know but one way that is left, and that is by the Improvement of Commons and Wast-lands; they might (if wisely managed by Commissioners from Parliament; for the Cormudgeans of the world will never consent to part with a Turff for Christ, if they can help it) be improved to ten times the value that now they are at, to the benefit of the Parishioners, and the advancement of many pious Uses.
8. It were to be wisht that all Market To…ns that are very populous, and have men fit for Government in them, were freely made Corporations; and that Inferior Market Towns had a Iustice of Peace, either in them, or planted very near them, that the people might not run seven miles to have a Swearer, Drunkard, or Sabbath-Profaner punisht. This would prevent abundance of sin which is committed in these places, at Markets and Fairs especially, for want of Iustices.
The Lord, the Righteous Judge of all, direct you by his Spirit, preserve you from sin and error, he fasten you as a nail in a sure place, crown your endeavours with success for the setling of Truth and Peace upon firm foundations in this distracted, distressed Church and State; he make all Mountains a … before you, that you may be the Repaires of our Breaches, and the raisers of the Foundations for many Generations, that the children unborn (in their Generations) may Rise up, and call you blessed. This is, and shall be the Prayer of
Your devoted Servant in the work of the Lord, Tho. Hall. Kingsnorton Septemb. 10. 1659.
Christian Reader,
MUch might be said, and that deservedly; concerning the beauty of this Exposition of the 82 Psalm, called by the worthy Authour, The Beauty of Magistracy; it discovering that Ordinance of God, Magistracy, in its genuine Beauty and Lustre. As my many occasions would permit, I have perused several parts thereof, and can assure the Reader, that I find the Exposition solid and judicious, the method clear and perspi…uous, the stile terss and clean, yet grave and Theological; the application warm, holy, and proper, the whole learned, gracious, and worthy the eye, love, and practice of a judicious Reader, who hath the encourag…ment to peruse it, and also that he may do it with profit, the prayers in his perusing it, of
His Servant in our Lords Work▪ W. Ienkyn. Febr. 3. 1659/…0