The Great Blessing of Primitive Counselors, Sermon
PRIMITIVE COUNSELLOURS, A Great BLESSING.
ISAI. 1. 26.
I will Restore thy Counsellours as at the Beginning.
WHEN Austin sent to Ambrose, craving his Advice what part of the Scripture he should especially Read, He Commended the Prophet Isaiah to him. He continued Prophesying a very long time; to be sure above Sixty (some think above Fourscore) years.
In his Publick Ministry, he never spared any unto whom he was sent to Deliver Messages in the Name of the Lord. His Style is not only Heroick and Majestical, becoming a Magnanimous Spirit, but very Evangelical. Whence some of the Ancients have called him the Fifth Evangelist, and the Apostle of the Old Testament. His Divine sayings (some or other of them) are Quoted no less than Sixty Times in the New-Testament. The usual Method observed by him in his Sermons, is with Awful Severity to threaten Judgments on the Impenitent, and to Predict and Promise mercy to the truly Penitent. And so He does in this Text and Context.
In the preceding Verse the Lord by the Prophet declares that the Judgments inflicted on his People should be Sanctified to their Reformation. He would Turn his Hand upon them, not in Wrath but in Mercy, so as purely to Purge away their Dross. This Verse is a farther Confirmation of that Prediction, wherein there are Two Great Blessings promised to Jerusa…em.
1. That Judges, i. e. Chief Magistrates should be Restored to them as at the first.
This was necessary in Order to their being a Reformed People. For it was by means of the profaness of their Princes, that the City and Nation was Corrupted. Nor could a National Reformation be expected until such time as the great ones therein should have their hearts sett for Religion, and Righteousness.
2. The Lord does here promise His People that they shall have Counsellours as at the beginning. For altho' the Chief Magistrate should be for Reformation and Holiness, if his Counsellours be not so too, little good can be expected, therefore both are promised as a Singular Favour of God unto Jerusalem. The Doctrine before us to be insisted on, as suitable to the present Occasion. Is,
That Primitive Counsellours are a singular Mercy and Blessing of God to His People.
The Doctrine may be Confirmed in Three Propositions.
Proposition. I. Good Counsellours are the Gift of God. The Lord saith here I will Restore thy Judges and thy Counsellours. It is not in the Power of all the men in the World to make a good Counsellour, except God first make him to be such an one. There are but few men in the World comparatively who are fit to give Counsel, especially in the difficult affairs of State. And they that are, it is God that has furnished them with gifts and Qualifications for such a station. Who maketh thee to differ (saith the Apostle) and what hast thou that thou didst not Receive. 1 Cor. 4. 7. Who is it that makes one man to be greater or better then another? To be Richer or Wiser then another. It is the Lord that makes it to be so. When John Baptists Disciples were troubled that another, (tho' infinitely his Superiour) was preferred before him, He said to them A man can Receive nothing except it be given him from Heaven. Joh. 3. 27. If a man has Reputation above another, he has Received it from Heaven, and if he has great accomplishments in more respect then one, he is beholden to Heaven for them all. It is said of Solomon, That God gave him VVisdome and Understanding exceeding Much, and Largeness of Heart even as the Sand that is on the Sea shore, because of the infinite number of Wise Conceptions that his Large soul was able to Comprehend. 1. King 4. 29. Royal Endowments were conferred on him, and it was God that did make him fit to be a King so if any man has the understanding which is requisite in a Counsellour, it is God that has given him that Understanding. And it is His Proivdence that does order who shall be such. There are some in the World who are well accomplished to be in such a Capacity that are not made use of. There are that have this Preeminence belonging to them as their Birth-Right. Noble Men are Consiliarij Nati. Others are Chosen and Constituted by the Supream Power. In some Places the People have a Concurrence in the Election of Counsellours. This notwithstanding, the God of Heaven determines and over-rules all. Whoever may have an hand in the Choice, their Spirits and all their Actions are disposed of by an Invisible Power. The Lot is cast into the Lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Pro. 16. 33.
Moreover when any persons are qualified for, and chosen unto a Service of this Nature, it is God that does incline their hearts, to accept of that Trouble. Indeed the Generality of men (and especially such as are unfit) need no great perswasion to comply with such Offers. But there are some who are as averse to Publick Employments as was Moses, when he said Send I pray thee by the Hand of whom thou wilt send, only let me be excused. I have had the happiness to be acquainted with a Great and Noble Personage, who was desired by Two Kings Successively to be of Their Council, but declined it. The affairs of a People may be so Perplexed, as that a wise Man may be afraid to meddle, or to be any way interested in their Publick concerns. This we see in what the Prophet Speaks, Isai. 3. 6, 7. Be thou our Ruler, and Let this Ruine be under thy Hand,—I will not be an Healer, Make me not a Ruler of the People. I see (saith He) you are a Ruined People, and I have no mind that your Ruin should be under my Hand, therefore I will not accept of your offer. Counsellours (such as are so by their place and office) do Assist in Government. Now the Work of Government is no easy Labour. That Celebrated saying of Melancthons has a great deal of Truth in it, that there are there hard Labours Parturientis the Labour of Child Birth, Docentis, the Labour of one that is a Teacher, Regentis, the Labour of one that is a Ruler. They that never did, & were never fit to make trial of it, may think it easy, but others do not find it so. One of the Kings of England had in all the Windows of his House a Crown in a Bush of Thorns, to signify what Cares do attend Government. If then Wise men shall be willing to deny themselves as to their own repose, and to encounter with many difficulties in serving the Publick Interest, it is God that has made them so.
Proposition II. Primitive Counsellors are men of singular Qualifications. The Scripture mentions especially four Graces which Rulers and Counsellours should be adorned with: And they which have them being quailified according to that Rule which is from the Beginning, are Primitive Counsellers.
The first is Piety towards God. Counsellers ought to be, and Counsellers at the Beginning were Godly men. So it was when the Children of Israel first began to be a Common-wealth under Moses; and at their Beginning to be a Settled Kingdom under David. The Judges who were Governours, were Godly, and some of the Kings of Israel were Holy men, and then we may be sure their Counsellers were so too. Psal. 4. 3. The Lord hath set apart him that is Godly for Himself. This was spoken concerning David's being set apart to be the chief Ruler over the People of God; so they that are set apart to assist him whom God has made Ruler and Governour in Chief ought to be Godly. The first Counseller of State that we read of in the Scripture was Jethro, a very pious person. He advised Moses to chuse some to assist him in Government, and sheweth how they should be qualified. Provide (saith he) Such as Fear God. Exod. 18. 31. such as will by their Authority and Example Encourage others to Fear and Serve Him. That will make the Advancement of Gods Interest their chief Design. That will so act & so speak as men that really believe they must give an Account to the Great and Eternal God. That will often think with themselves, is this Counsil according to the approving Will of God, and that will not for the World advise to any thing which they believe is contrary thereunto.
2. Fidelity towards men is another requisite in a Counseller. A Primitive Counseller is qualified with Righteousness as well as Piety. Choose men of Truth said Jethro. Counsellers are Rulers. Now he that Ruleth over men must be Just, Ruling in the Fear of God, 2 Sam. 23. 3. They ought to be men, that will give to God the things that are Gods, and to Caesar, the things that are Caesars; yea, that will give to all men their due. Counsellers ought to be, and Counsellers at the Beginning were, Faithful to him that is the Chief Ruler, in advising him for the best: Such an one was Hushai the Archite unto David, 2 Sam. 17. 15. Thus and thus did Ahitophel Counsel, and thus and thus have I Counselled. He Saved the Life of his Prince by giving that Counsel. Men in such a Station should moreover approve themselves faithful to the Interest of the People, whose Welfare as Counsellers they are bound to endeavour. The Prince and the People have not opposite Interests, He that promoves the true Interest of the one, does so of the other also. A great Emperour was wont to say, Non mihi sed populo; I am Set in this High Station, not for my self, but for the Nations sake. So are Counsellers to advise unto such things as the People, the Country who are Concerned in them, may have cause to Bless God for them. Such a Counseller was Mordecai in the Court of Persia. Esth. 10. 3. Mordecai the Jew was next unto King Ahasuerus; He ws Advanced to be a Right Honourable Privy Counseller, Seeking the Wealth of his People. It was said of one of the Kings of France, that He was, Titularis non tutelaris Rex, defuit non praefuit Reipublicae So may it be said of such Counsellers, as do not intend and faithfully design the Good of that people, over whom the Providence of God has placed them, they have only the Name, but not the nature of Counsellers in them. True Primitive Counsellers they are not.
3. It is necessary that Counsellers should be Endued with the Grace of Courage. The Spirit of Counsel and of Might, that is to say of Courage, are conjoyned, because Counsellers should be men of Courage, Isa. 11. 2. And this is implied in that of their Fearing God, h. e. they must Fear God and not men. Moses ga…e it in Charge unto those whom he did Commission to be Judges, Deut. 1. 17. You shall not be afraid of the Face of man. The like is to be said unto Counsellers. Solomons Throne was supported by Lions, 2 King. 10. 20. Thus Counsellers who are the Supporters of the Government should be of Magnanimous and Undaunted Spirits. The Pillars of a Land must not Warp either for fear or favour. They may not Fear the Frowns of them that are above them, so as to neglect their Duty. If they should see the Chief Ruler in danger of falling into any Error, which would be injurious to Himself or to his People; they ought freely tho' humbly to advise Him to desist. It is reported concerning the Chines, that the Counsellers of their Prince do with great Freedom admonish him of dangerous Errors, and that if they do it not, they are not accounted worthy of the Name of Counsellers, or men of Honour. Joab did the part of a Faithful Counseller unto David, in disswading from his ambitious Design of Numbring the People: Why (said he) does my Lord the King require this? Why will he be a cause of Trespass unto Israel. 1 Chron. 4. 3. And at another time, when David was too much Transported with passion at the Death of his Son Absolom, Joah advised him to refrain himself, and to speak kindly to the men that had Hazzarded their Lives to Save his; and David had the Wisdom to Hearken to that good Advice. Nor should Counsellers in the Discharge of their Duty, be afraid of the Multitude. Job saith, Did I fear a great Multitude? or did the Contempt of Families terrify me. Job 31. 34. He knew that if he did punish Vice, the Families and Relations of such as had suffered the Law, would reproach him▪ and a multitude would clamour against him, but that would not deter him from a Faithful Discharge of the Duty of his Place; such Courage becomes a Counseller. Let a man give the best Counsel in the World, he shall never please every body: There is such variety and Contrariety in the Opinions of men, that all cannot be pleased; sometimes not a few only, but the major part, take in with the wrong side, and have their unreasonable Dissatisfactions; now Counsellers must do their Duty, let the World be pleased or displeased. They may not at any time be afraid to own Christ and his Cause, but if they see Designs on foot against the best Interest, they ought boldly to interpose, and to oppose themselves. It is said of Joseph of Arimathea, that he was an Honourable Counseller, Mark 15. 43 some think that he was one of the Sanedrim, the great Council of the Nation. Others suppose him to be one of the Governours Council. Now when there was a Consult about putting Christ to Death, this Joseph Entred his Dissent, and after the Lord was by Forms of Law, and false Witnesses, and an Accusation of pretended Treason, Condemned and Murdered, this Honourable Counseller, went boldly unto Pilate who had received a Commission to be Governour ove… the Province of Judea, and Craved the Body of Jesus. Thus did He with Exemplary Courage own Christ and his Cause.
And yet more than all this is required in a Counseller. A man may be a Pious, a Faithful, a Couragious man, and for all that not fit to be a Counseller. Therefore 4. It is necessary that a Counseller be qualified with the Grace of Wisdom. The Divine Wisdom is expressed by that of being Great in Counsel. Jer. 32. 19. Only God, Angels, and men are Causes by Counsel. The more Wisdom there is in any man, the more able he is to give Counsel: It is noted concerning that Faithful Minister of God, Zachariah, who was (as Interpreters have noted) an Ecclesiastical Counseller, one with whom the King was wont to advise in matters of Religion, that He was a wise Counseller, 1 Chron. 26. 14. So should all Counsellers be men of Wisdom. Hence 'tis said by the Prophet, Jer. 49. 7. Is Wisdom no more in Teman? Is Counsel perished from the Prudent? is their Wisdom vanished. Imprudent men are unfit to be made Counsellers. Pharaohs Counsellers of Old were wise men, but his Chief Counseller Joseph (tho' a young man did Excel them all in Wisdom. Pharaoh said to him, There is none so discreet and wise as thou art. Gen. 41. 37. And the Psalmist saith of him, that He Taught Pharaohs Senators (his Counsellers) Wisdom. Psal. 105. 22. Courage without Wisdom, in one that undertakes to be a Counseller, will do more hurt than good. An Horse that is full of Metal, if he has no Eyes to see his way before him, is a dangerous Creature to make use of. If rash, heady, unthinking men are made use of for Counsellers, the Publick Weal of such a People is in danger. The carnal Jews indeed depended too much on this that they had Wise men at Helm to be their Counsellers of State Jer. 18. 18. The Law shall not perish from the Priests, nor Counsel from the Wise. We have wiser men than Jeremy (say they) to Sit in Council, and therefore what He adviseth unto is not to be regarded; but tho' a Nation whose Counsellers are great Politicians may possibly be ruined (as the Jewish Nation was) if they have not such Counsellers, they are in an ill case, as we shall have occasion anon further to declare.
Proposition III. Such Counsellers as these described are a singular mercy and Blessing of God to a People. I shall only mention two things that Evince the Truth of this Proposition.
1. Civil Government is a great and necessary Blessing. Without it the World would soon be Dissolved, and run into Confusion. As one speaks, the World would not then be a KOSMOS, a Beautiful Structure, but a KAOS, an horrid Heap of Disorder. What would Kingdoms be were it not for Government? but (as Austin expresses it) Magna Latrocinia, great Dens of Thieves. Let a people that have found the benefit of Government be without it for a while, and they will quickly be made sensible that 'tis a great and a necessary Blessing. I have read that it was once a Law amongst the Persians, that after the Death of their King, every man should have Liberty to do what he pleased for five days; and in these five days time there was such horrid doings, that all the people prized Government the better all their days after. Now Government cannot well be managed by one alone without the Assistance of Counsellers. Many Eyes see more than one. 'Tis possible that one man may discern that which another does not see. Besides, the Burden will be too heavy for one alone. Hence Moses said to the Children of Israel, I am not able to bear you my self alone. Deut. 1 9. and again verse 12. How can I my self alone bear your Cumbrances, and your Burdens, and your Strife? Where there is a great people, the Burden is too heavy for a mortal man, tho' never so wise and able. Moses was a wise States-man, nevertheless Jethro advised him to take some to assist him, in Ruling that numerous people, because else the Burden would be so heavy upon him, as that he must needs sink and break under the weight of it, Exod. 18. 18. The wisest Ruler in the World needs the assistance of Counsellers. Solomon (the wisest of men) had his Counsellers about him. The truth is, the Light of Nature has taught men not only to Erect Governments, but that there should be Counsellers to assist the Chief Ruler. The Scripture informs us that not only the Kings of Israel, but the Kings of the Gentiles had their Counsellers, with whom they were wont to take Advice in all arduous Affairs. Ezra Blesseth God, who had extended Mercy to him before Artaxarxes the King of Persia, and his Counsellers. Ezra 7. 28. And in the 14 verse He was sent of the King, and his seven Counsellers Perhaps there might be Superstition in their fixing on the Number seven, if they did it (as some Learned Men suppose) because they would have their Government to Resemble the Heavens, wherein there are seven Planets: But as to the thing, that there should be Counsellers, the Light of Nature instructed them; and therefore it is so in all Nations and Governments.
2. The Inttrest and Influence of good Counsellers is great. They have a great Interest in the Chief Ruler. In Governments, which are more absolute, and much more in those that are more Limited it is so, especially where the principal Ruler cannot Act without their Consent. It cannot be expressed of how great Concernment it is for such a People to be Blessed with Counsellers as at the Beginning. Not only whole Provinces but whole Kingdoms have Fared the better for the Wise Counsils of one Good man. So did Egypt, because there was such a wise Counseller as Joseph found amongst them. And the whole Kingdom of Israel found the benefit of it, when David made the Prophet Nathan to be of his Cabinet Council. Solomon Owed his Crown, and the People much of their Happiness to the seasonable Advice of Nathan, which had a great influence on the Royal Heart of King David, in causing him to Nominate Solomon to Succeed in Government, whereby great Confusions that otherwise would have happened, were prevented. Rehoboam had not lost ten parts in twelve of his Kingdom, if he had followed the wise Advice of his Fathers Counsellers Nor had Zedekiah Lost his Kingdom, nor had the City and Temple been Burnt, and the whole Land made Desolate, if the good Counsel of the Prophet Jeremiah had been hearkened unto, whom God sent to be a Counseller to them. If I give thee Counsel (said the Prophet to the King) wilt thou not hearken unto me. Jer. 38. 15. It had been well if he had.
When there are Coansellers as at the Beginning, two things usually follow, which make a people happy.
1. There will be good Judges. Much of the Welfare of a People does consist in their having Able and Upright Judges, that will endeavour to approve themselves in all things like unto God, the Judge of Judges, with whom there is no Iniquity, nor Respect of persons. Hence Moses who Loved the Lords People in the VVilderness more than He Loved his own Life, out of Respect to their VVelfare took of the Chief of the Tribes, VVise Men, and Known, and gave them a Commission and Instruction, to Act as Judges, solemnly charging them to acquit themselves as became men in their places▪ Deut. 1. 15, 16, 16. Now if there be Counsellers as at the Beginning, there will be Judges as at the First. It cannot but be so in a Government, where no Judges are appointed but with the consent of the Council. Good Counsellers will Advise to good Judges, and good Judges will make the Land happy.
2. Where there are good Counsellours, Religion and Reformation will be Encouraged. Primitive Counsellers will concern themselves to uphold Religion in the Truth, Purity and Power of it. In King Joash his Time, as long as Jehojadah was his Chief Counseller, The Service of the House of the Lord was duly attended, but when ill Counsellers succeeded and were hearkened unto, they Left the House of the Lord God of their Fathers, and Served Groves and Idols. There is no great fear or danger of Apostasy in Matters of Religion, as long as there are Counsellers as at the Beginning. It is in their Power to prevent it, and they will prevent it. For a people to Enjoy the only true Religion; to have not only Liberty, but Encouragement to Serve God in the way and after the manner which Himself in His Holy Word has Appointed, is a mercy beyond Expression great. And thus it will be as long as there are such Counsellers as I am speaking of. Reformers are great Blessings to the places where they Live: Primitive Counsellers are of a Reforming Spirit. The Work of Reformation useth to go forward, when such are in Place. Besides Scripture Examples, we have seen it in our own Nation. In the Reign of King Henry 8. When he had such Counsellers as Cromwel and Cramner, there was in some things a great Reformation. And in several Reigns since that: Wise Counsellers have made our Nation happy, and as to many particulars more Reformed than once it was. There is a Glorious Day a coming, (and I trust in Christ that it is not far off) when the Church of God throughout the whole World, will be in a more Reformed State than ever yet was known since the World began, When Judges as at the First, and Counsellers as at the Beginning, will be the Instruments in the Hands of Christ, by whom it shall be effected. Wherefore in the next words to my Text, it is said, afterwards thou shalt be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City. Jerusalem the Church of God all the World over shall become a City of Righteousness, but first, and that it may be so, Primitive Counsellers shall be Restored.
We come now to make some Application of the Doctrine thus far Insisted on.
USE I.
Hence the contrary unto this of a Peoples being Blessed with Primitive Counsellors is a sore Judgment. It is said that where no Counsel is, the People fall, but in the multitude of Counsellers there is safety. Prov. 11. 14. Where there are good Counsellers, and a multitude of them, we may expect good, and much good, a multitude of Blessings will be on such a People, but where there are none such, nothing but ruine can be hoped for. The Removal of wise Counsellers is threatned as a sore Judgment. Isai. 3. 3. When a People is reduced unto that condition, that there are none fit for Counsellors to be found amongst them, their State is deplorable, they are either perfectly undone, or the next door to ruin. Mic. 4, 9. Why dost thou cry aloud, is the Counseller perished? There is cause enough to cry aloud if it be so. They may well make Loud Outcries of their being an undone people amongst whom the Counseller is perished. And thus it is where there are Counsellors of pernicious principles: and inclinations: Such an one there was in Nineveh, where the King of Assyria kept his Court. Neh. 1. 11. There is one come out of thee that imagineth Evil against the Lord, a wicked Counsellor. Perhaps Rabshekeh might be the Counsellor whom the Prophet there reflects upon. However, one he was that advised the King to Persecute the People of God, and to Act Arbitrarily, without any respect to right or wrong. Such Counsellors there were in Persia, who perswaded the Emperour to Establish Iniquity by a Law, and then to Persecute and Murder all such as could not with a good Conscience Conform to that Law, Dan. 6. 7.
Politicians have laid it down for a Maxim, and there is a Truth in it, That a People had better have a bad Prince with a good Council, than a good Prince with a bad Council. For Evil Counsellors will (as one expresseth it) by their poysonous Whispers and Instillations at the Ear, Corrupt the Heart, & Taint the Spirits of the best Princes. Kings and Kingdoms have often been Ruined by Evil Counsils. So was King Ahaziah, who would needs take some of the House of Ahab to be of his Council, and it is noted, that they were his Counsellors to his Destruction. 2 Chron. 22. 4. The Kingdom of Israel was divided and so weakned after the Death of Solomon, and unhappy Counsellors were the cause of it. And thus it has been in our Nation. Not only in former Times, but in our Days. How came the late Abdicated King to be Deposed from his Kingly Throne, and his Glory to be taken from him; but because instead of hearkening to Counsellers as at the Beginning, he would be Governed by Popish Counsils.
USE II.
This Informs and Directs them in whose power it is to Choose Counsellers what manner of persons they are to Elect, namely such as were at the Beginning. The VVord of the Lord does Instruct this General Assembly, whom they ought to Chose or Confirm this Day. What manner of persons the Representatives of this people, who are here before the Lord ought to Nominate, and what manner of Persons the Governour of this Province is by the VVord of the Lord, obliged to approve of. Unto you that are by the several Towns throughout this Government Deputed to Act in their stead, Let me say, you have heard from the Word of the Lord, what kind of men Primitive Counsellers were, viz. God-fearing men, faithful, couragious, prudent, you have by the Royal Charter Granted to you Power to Nominate such, and you will please God in so doing. And let me further add here, that it is very meet that persons Nominated for Counsellers should be men of Estate, and of some Port in the VVorld. Isa. 3. 7. Thou hast Cloathing be thou our Ruler. Thou hast an Estate to Support the place and Dignity of a Ruler, and therefore we Choose thee. If this be not considered, Government will be rendred contemptible, and that cannot be without Sin. Let me also say to you who are the Representatives of this People, that it will not be prudence in you (at this time especially) to propose such Assistants to the Governour as you cannot but know, that He cannot Accept of, and so to necessitate him to make use of his Negative Voice, when He has no desire to do it. And you cannot but know that whoever is Governour, He will judge it necessary that many of his Council should have their Habitations near to his, that so if any sudden Emergency or Danger to the Publick should happen, his Council may be at Hand to Advise with. And you cannot but know that no Governour will take those into his Council, who are Malecontents, and do what in them is to make others to be Disaffected to the Government. No Governour can take such men into his Bosome.
And as for your self Excellent Sir, whom God has made the Captain over his People in this VVilderness, It is a very great Power which the Divine Providence has put into your Hands, that you should have a Negative on the Elections of this Day. A Power which I confess, neither you nor any one else should have had, if any Interest that I was capable to make, could have prevented it. You know Sir, that I humbly argued against it to the Kings Majesty, and to many of His chief Ministers of State. But I now see that God has ordered it to be as it is in Mercy to this his People; what it may be for the future, when the Ingratitude of an unthankful Murmuring Generation of men, shall have provoked the Most High again to say of New England, her Enemies shall prosper, and her Adversaries shall be Chief, the Lord knoweth: but at present there is more good than hurt in it, and will be so as long as there shall be a Governour whose Heart is Engaged to seek not Himself, but the Publick good. You have, Sir, at this day good men, and some of them as wise men as any this Country does afford to be of your Council. And not one of them can be Removed without Your consent, since the present Counsellers must continue until new Ones are Chosen, and no Election of a New One is valid without your Approbation signified under Your Hand. And altho' it is necessary that some New Ones be Elected, and perhaps convenient that there be some further Alterations, nevertheless, no one that is Disaffected to the best and highest Interest, or, to the Government of Their Majesties in England, or, that is an Enemy to the Government here, can be imposed on you. So that it is in your power to make this People happy one year longer. And I earnestly pray to God to incline your Heart to do what shall be pleasing in his sight, and most conducing to the Welfare of His People.
USE III.
I Conclude, With a Word of Exhortation which Concerns us all.
Let us do what in us Lieth that this so great a Mercy may be continued to us.
We Read in the Gospel, that when the Lord Jesus Christ had taken a Text out of the Prophet Isaiah, He began His Sermon with saying, This Day is this Scripture fulfilled in your Ears. Luk. 4. 21. So let me conclude my Discourse with saying, This day, is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears, and before your eyes. For God has not only Given but Restored to New-England, Counsellors as at the Beginning. We are all greatly concerned to endeavour the Continuance of such a Favour.
You will say, What shall we do that it may be so.?
Answ. 1. Let us be careful that those sins which provoke the Lord to withhold this Mercy from his People be not found amongst us. It is sin that does provoke God to take away Good Rulers, and to send Bad ones. It is Storied that when a very Unworthy Person was Advanced to an High Station, a Religious Man Expostulating with Heaven about it, Received that Answer, that it was not because such an one was Worthy of that Place, but because that sinful people were worthy to be Punished with having so wicked a Ruler set over them. It was Certainly a True Confession which the Levites made on a Publick Fast Day. Neh. 9. 37. The Kings whom thou hast set over us because of our Sins, have dominion over our Bodys, and over our Cattel, at their pleasure. They once had Merciful Rulers, and those too from amongst themselves, but they sinned them away, and were for a time in the hands of Strangers who did exercise an Arbitrary Power over them, so that they could not say that their Cattle, or their Lands, or any thing was their own: all was at the Will and Pleasure of Strangers. New-Enngland has had some experience of this. Your Land Strangers did devour it in your presence. You must give what they pleased to demand that so you might have a pretended Confirmation of your Estates and Properties. The Counsellours which then carried all were not Counsellours as at the beginning. God has Mercifully delivered you from them. But if the sins which brought that Judgment on the Land are still amongst us unreformed and unrepented of; what can be expected, but that after a clear Sunshine for a while the Clouds will return again with greater Darkness than ever? What those sins were I need not say, so much having been spoken concerning that, many Years ago. To be sure the great sin of this Generation is their forgetting the Errand on which their Fathers came into this Wilderness which was not to seek great things for themselves, but to seek the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness. Let this people recover their Primitive Holiness, and they need not doubt but God will Bless them with Primitive Counsellours; and that they shall see that promise made to Jacob fulfilled, Jer. 30. 8. Strangers shall no more serve themselves of him.
2. Let us be very thankful for what we enjoy. To be thankful for Mercys, is the way to have them continued. What would not New-England have given no longer since then Five Years ago, to have been sure of what they now enjoy? And what, tho' you have not some Great Priviledges which once you had, and which should have been Restored to you, if He that speaketh to you this Day, could have obtained them for you, tho' it be with the Expence of his own Life, and of all that is Dear to him in this World will you be thankful for nothing: because you have not every thing just as you would have? Do any of you say, all that you have is nothing? I hear there are some (tho' not many) that say so. Let me Reason with you before the Lord this Day? You have by the Royal Charter granted to you, Property confirmed, so that every Man may sit under his own Vine, and his own Figtree. And is this nothing. I am sure you would have thought it something, and a great thing too, but a Few years since. You have all English Liberties Restored to you, so that a Governour with a Juncto of his Council cannot (as of late they did) make Laws, and impole Taxes on you, without your own consent, by your Representatives, And is this nothing? No Governour can now cause you, or your Children or Servants (as not long since they might) to be sent out of the Province. Your Present Charter Secures you against all such Invasions. And do you now account it nothing? You have Peculiar Charter▪Priviledges granted to you, which no other English Plantation in the World has. Witness your being here this Day. No other Plantation has that Priviledge of Nominating to the Governour, his Council: nor have the Kings Subjects in England it self that Priviledge; and is this nothing? Your Religion is secured to you. Now you need not fear being sent to Prison (as some of you were under a late Government) because you scruple Swearing by a Book. You may Worship God in the greatest Purity, and no one may Disturb you. If you set apart Daies for Solemn Praier or Praises, as the Divine Providence may call thereunto, you need not fear being interrupted or Obstructed therein as it was here six year ago. You may by Laws not only Protect, but encourage that Religion which is the General Profession of the Country. And is all this nothing? You have at present a Governour, and a Lievtenant Governour, (and all the Council likewise) from amongst yourselves, who do unfeignedly seek your welfare. And is this nothing? Some of you say it will not be long thus. In which you speak more then you know. But Suppose so. Ezra and the Lords Peole with him, thought they had great cause to be thankful to God in that He had given them a Little reviving in their Bondage, and extended mercy to them in the sight of the King of Persia, who had by a Charter granted them Liberty to set up the House of God, and to repair the Desolations thereof, as we may do this Day. But if a Change come, and the Lord be Provoked again to set Rulers over you that will obstruct what is Good and desireable, you that are the Murmurers will be found the Guilty cause of it before the Lord, in the Name of the Lord be it spoken to you.
3. Prayer unto God may be a means to obtain the Continuance of this so great a mercy. Be Earnest with God that you may still have Counsellours as at the Beginning. And you are on this (as well as on many other) accounts Concerned to pray for the King and Queen; For as long as Their present Majesties shall hold the English Scepter in their Hands, we in New-England may hope to see Good days. God has Blessed Our Nation with a King in the Preservation of whom the Fate of Europe and of the Church of God is more concerned then it has been in the life of any one Person for these Thousand Years. A King that Fights the Battels of the Lord. A King that when a Crown was offered to him, declared, that nothing should Oblige him to be a Persecuter. VVho that has a Spark of Grace in his Heart, will not pray for such a King? A King that has more then once or twice in My hearing and to me expressed a singular respect to His Good Subjects in these Colonies.
And Pray for the Queen.
For God has blessed the Nation with a Queen (as well as with a King) the like unto whom (without Reflection on any Predecessors) never sat on the English Throne. A Queen that loveth all people that are good, whatever their perswasions in matters relating to Conscience may be. A Queen that is a pattern of Vertue to the Nation. A Queen that has (to my certain knowledge) interceded with the King, that He would be kind to New-England. Pray then for the Life and Prosperity of such a King and such a Queen. And I do the rather urge this upon you, because I have sometimes been favoured with the Liberty humbly to assure Their Majesties, that there are none in the World that Pray for them with more fervency and frequency then do Their Subjects in New-England. I beseech you make it appear that I was not mistaken in what I have affirmed concerning you.
And pray for them that shall be Established as Counsellers and Rulers over you this Day: That the Lord Jesus whose Name is Counseller, will be with them: That the Lord Jesus who saith, Counsel is mine and sound Wisdom, will please to give them of his Spirit, which is the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, the Spirit of Counsil and Might, the Spirit of Knowledge and of the Fear of the Lord.
FINIS.
End of the text · Increase Mather, The Great Blessing of Primitive Counselors (1693)