The Character of a Good Ruler, Sermon

The Character of a Good Ruler · Sermon

THE CHARACTER OF A GOOD RULER.

II. SAMUEL XXIII. III.

He that Ruleth over men, muſt be juſt, Ruling in the Fear of God.

WHether the Ordination of Civil Government be an Article of the Law of Nature, and it ſhould accordingly have been eſtabliſhed upon the Multiplication of Mankind, although they had retained their Primitive Integrity: Or whether i… have only a Poſitive right, and was introduced upon mans Apoſtaſy; is a queſtion about which all are not agreed. The equity of it, to be ſure, is founded in the Law natural, and is to p. 2be diſcovered by the light of Nature, being accordingly acknowledged by ſuch as are ſtrangers to Scripture Revelation; and by Chriſtians it is reducible to the firſt Command in the Second Table of the Decalogue; which is ſuppoſed to be a tranſcript of the Law given to Adam at the firſt, and written upon the Tables of his Heart. For tho▪ had man kept his firſt ſtate, the Moral Image Concreated in him, conſiſting in, Knowledg, Righteouſneſs, and True Holineſs, would have maintained him in a perfect underſtanding of, and Spontaneous Obedience to the whole duty incumbent on him, without the need of civil Laws to direct him, or a civil Sword to lay compulſion on him; and it would have been the true Golden Age, which the Heathen Myth…logiſts are ſo Fabulous about. yet even then did the All-Wiſe God Ordain Orders of Supe…iority and Inferiority among men, and required an Honour to be paid accordingly. But ſince the unhappy fall hath Robbed man of that perfection, and filled his heart with perverſe and rebellious principles, tending to the Subverſion of all Order and the reducing of the World to a Chaos; neceſſity requires, and the Political happineſs of a People is concerned in the eſtabliſhment of Civil Government. The want of it hath p. 3ever been pernicious, and at…ended on with miſerable Circumſtances. When there was no Governour in Iſrael, but every man did what he would, what horrible outrages, were then perpetrated, though Holy and Zealous Phinehas was at that time the High-Prieſt? and we ourſelves have had a Specimen of this in the ſhort Anarchy accompanying our late Revolution. Gods Wiſdom therefore, and his goodneſs is to be adored in that he hath hid in ſuch a relief for the Children of men, againſt the miſchief which would otherwiſe devour them; and engraven an inclination on their hearts, generally to comply with it. But this notwithſtanding, mens ſins may put a curſe into their Bleſſings, & render their remedy to be not better, poſſibly worſe than the Malady. Government is to prevent and cure the diſorders that are ap… to break forth among the Societies of men; and to promote the civil peace and proſpe…i…y of ſuch a people, as well as to ſuppreſs impiety, and nouriſh Religion. For this end there are to be both Rulers, and ſuch as are to be Ruled by them: and the Weal or Wo of a People mainly depends on the qualifications of thoſe Rulers, by whom we are to be Governed. Hence that Obſervation, Eccleſ. 10. 16, 17. Wo to thee, O Land? when thy King is a Child, p. 4and thy Princes eat in the morning. Bleſſed art thou, O Land! when thy King is the Son of Nobles, and thy Princes eat in due ſeaſon for ſtrength, and not for Drunkenneſs. There is then much of Gods Kin…neſs or Diſpleaſure to be Read in his Providential diſpoſing of this Affai…. God ſaith of them, Hoſ… 13. 11. I gave them a King in mine Anger.

We have therefore the Character of a Good RULER Recommended to us in the Word of GOD, and Exemplified in ſome who deſerved that Epithete, not only to let men know when GOD favours them with ſuch a Bleſſing, that they may return Him His deſerved Praiſe for it; but alſo, both to Inſtruct ſuch into whoſe hands it falls, how to Demean themſelves in their Authority, ſo as to be a Common Good; and to direct thoſe unto whoſe truſt it is Committed, what manner of Perſons they ought to introduce, it they would either Pleaſe GOD, or Conſult their own and their Peoples Welfare.

Such a Character we find is given in our Text; and we may ſuppoſe David intended for an Inſtance of it.

p. 5The words are Introduced with greateſt ſolemnity, to give them the deeper impreſſion on the hearts of thoſe that read them, and are concerned in them. They are the words of David, whom God had exalted to the Government over His People Iſrael, and inſtructed in his Duty: who was Gods own Anointed by an Extraordinary calling And they are his Laſt words, Probably not that he ever ſpake, but ſome of his dying words, and the l…ſt that he uttered by a Peculiar Prophetical Inſpiration, & they were not his own words, but ſuch as the Spirit of God dictated to him, and ſpake by him, whereof he was only the Inſtrument of their being committed to record. They therfore came out of the Mouth of the God and Rock of Iſrael: and ſurely there muſt be unſpeakable Importance in words Uſhered in with ſo Majeſtical a Preface. I might here tell you the divers readings, occaſioned by the curt expreſſion of the Hebrew Text, but I ſhall not ſpend time in it, ſince the general current of Interpreters runs the ſame way with our Tranſlation. And I need but Briefly acquaint you that the import or ſenſe of the words is variouſly underſtood: ſome apply them to God himſelf, and accordingly read the words as a continued deſcription of him: he that Ruleth juſt men; p. 6that ruleth men to fear God. Others apply them to Chriſt, as t…pified by David; and take them to be a Propheſy of his Mediatorial Kingdom: and then t…ey …ead it, ſhall be …ust, ruling the fear of God: i. e. Divine Inſtituted worſhip: pointing to the abrogating of the legal, and bringing in of the Goſpel adminiſtrations: but then the Type alſo muſt be reſpected, at le…ſt …nder a ſhadow: and ſo they ſuppoſe that Davids Typical Government is repreſented. Others take them according to the ſenſe of our Tranſla…ion, not to be a predi…ion but a precept, giving us to underſtand what manner of perſons ſuch are required to be, by the Divine Mandate, and that it was left as a Rule to them who ſhould ſucceed.

In the words there are two things to be obſerved.

1 The Subje…t ſpoken of; He that Ruleth over men. He that ruleth] The word Imports one that hath any Dominion, right, or authority over either Perſons or things; and is here applicable to all thoſe degrees of men that have any ma…k of Authority upon them; whether the King as Supream, or any Miniſters under him, under what Character or title ſoever:

Over men] the word [Adam] is frequently uſed to expreſs the Commonalty, or p. 7People that are to be Governed: but how…er, there i… or ought to be a vaſt difference between the Government of Men and Beaſts; though ſome Brutiſh men may deſerve to b… treated as Brutes. Man is a Reaſonable Creature, and of the ſame order of being with them that Gove…n him, and ought to be managed accordingly.

2. The Duty incumbent on ſuch an one: He muſt be Juſt, Ruling in the Fear of God. Some ſuppoſe that the double Office of the Civil Magiſtrate is here pointed at, who is Cuſtos utriuſque Tab…ae, who is to maintain Juſtice towards men, & Piety towards God. Others ſuppoſe the latter Expreſſion to be Exegetical to the former.

[Juſt] i. e One that makes Conſcience to obſerve and keep to the Rule of Right… ▪ ouſneſs in all his Adminiſtrations, he ought not to Exert his Power Illimitedly, and Arbitrarily, but in Conformi…y to the Law of God, and the Light of Nature, for Gods Honour, and the prom…ing of the common benefit of thoſe over whom he bears Authority. And hence,

[R…ling in the Fear of God.] And if he doth not ſo, he cannot be Juſt: and by the Fear of God we may either underſtand an holy Reverential Fear, entertained in his heart, which muſt Govern him, or elſe he p. 8will never Rule well. For though every good man will not make a good Ruler, yet it is ſ…arce to be believed that a man will Acquit this Office well without Piety. Or elſe it may be taken Metonimically, for the Rules of Gods Word, and thoſe particular Precepts which direct men how to carry themſelves in every Station: which are therefore called the Fear of God, becauſe they ſerve rightly to Regulate our Fear of him Where it is ſaid [he muſt] it doth not ſuppoſe that all who have ſuch Authority with them, do ſo Rule: woful experience too frequently proves the contrary: but that it is their Duty, and a matter of great Importance for them to attend it. Hence.

DOCTRINE

It is of higheſt Conſequence, that Civil Rulers ſhould be Juſt Men, and ſuch as Rule in the Fear of God.

Where ſhall we find any one Text in Scripture U…hered in more remarkably than this? I may not …arry here to draw out this Character in its full dimenſions, and give it all its Colours; but muſt only make ſome brief Glances.

p. 9Civil Rulers are all ſuch as are in the exerciſe of a rightful Authority over others. Theſe do not all of them ſtand in one equal Rank, nor are alike influential into Government. There are Supream and Subordinate Powers: and of theſe alſo there are ſome who have a Legiſlative, others an Executive Power in their Hands; which two, though they may ſometimes meet in the ſame perſons, yet are in themſelves things of a different Nature. There are Superiour Magiſtrates in Provinces, and ſuch as are of Council with them, and Aſſembly men, the Repreſentatives of the People. There are Judges in Courts, Superious and Inferiour; Juſtices of the Peace in their ſeveral Precincts: and in each of theſe Orders there Reſides a meaſure of Authority.

Now, that all theſe may be Juſt, it is firſtly req…ired, that they have a Principle of Moral Honeſty in them, and Swaying of them: that they Love Righteouſneſs, and Hate Iniquity: that they be Men of Truth, Exod. 18. 21. for every man will act in hi… Relation, according to the P…inciple that Ruler in him: ſo that an Unrighteous man will be an Unrighteous Ruler, ſo far as he hath an Opportunity.

They muſt alſo be acquainted with the Rules of Righteouſneſs; they muſt know p. 10what is Juſt, and what is Unjuſt, be Abl… m…n, Exod. 18. 21. For, though men may know and not do, yet without Knowledge the Mind cannot be good. Ignorance is a Foundation …or Error, and will likely produce it, when the man applies himſelf to act: and if he do right at any time, it is but by gueſs, which is a very poor Commendation.

Again, he muſt be one that reſpects the Cauſe, and not the perſons in all …is Adminiſtrations, Deut. 1. 17. Ye ſhall no… reſpect Perſons in Judgment, &c. i… his Affections Overſway his Judgment at any time, they will be a crooked Liaſs, that will turn him ou… of the way, and that ſhall be Juſtice in one mans caſe, which will not be ſo in another.

Farthermore, he muſt be one whom neither Flattery nor B…i…ery may be able to remove out of his way, Deut. 16. 19▪ Thou ſhalt not wreſt Judgment, thou ſhalt not Reſpect Perſons, neither take a Gift; and hence he muſt be one who hates both Ambition and Covetouſneſs, Exod. 18. 21 Hating Covetouſneſs; which word ſigni…ies, a Greedy Deſire, and is applicable to both the fore cited Vices: for if theſe Rule him, he will never be a juſt Ruler.

p. 11Finally, he muſt be one who prefers the publick Benefit above all private and ſeparate Intereſts whatſoever. Every man in his place, owes himſelf to the good of the whole; and if he doth not ſo devote himſelf, he is unjuſt: and he who either to advance himſelf, or to be Revenged on another, will puſh on Injurious Laws, or pervert the true Intention of ſuch as are in Force, is an unjuſt man: and he who is under the influence of a Narrow Spirit, will be ready to do ſo, as occaſion offers.

Nor is this Juſtice to be lookt upon as ſeparate from the Fear of God, but as influenced and maintained by it. He therefore that Ruleth in the Fear of God, is one who Acknowledgeth God to be his Soveraign, and carries in his heart an Awful Fear of him: who owns his Commiſſion to be from him, and expects ere long to be called to give in an Account of his managing of it: which maketh him to ſtudy in all things to pleaſe him, and to be afraid of doing any thing that will provoke him.

And accordingly, he is a Student in the Law of God, and Meditates in i… Day and Night; making it the Rule into which he ultimately reſolves all that he p. 12doth in his place. We find that in the Old Law, the King was to write a Copy of it with his own hand, and to make uſe of it at all times: Deut. 17. 18, 19.

If he hath any thing to do in the making of Laws, he will conſult a good Conſcience, and what may be pleaſing of God, and will be far from framing miſchief by a Law. And if he be to execu…e any Laws of men, he will not dare to give a judgment for ſuch an one as directly Croſſeth the Command of God, but counts it ipſo facto void, and his Conſcience acquitted of his Oath.

Yea the Fear of God will make him not …o think himſelf Lawleſs; nor dare to bear witneſs, by Laws and Penalties, againſt ſins in others, which he countenanceth and encourageth by living in the Practiſe of himſelf: But to uſe utmoſt endeavours that his own life may be an exemplification of Obedience, and others may lea…n by Him, what a Veneration he hath for the Laws that are enacted for the good of Man-kind.

In a word, he is one that will take care to promote Piety as well as Honeſty among▪ men; and do his utmoſt that the true Religion may be countenanced and eſtabliſhed▪ p. 13and that all Ungodlineſs, as well as Unrighteouſneſs, may have a due Teſtimony born againſt it at all times. So he reſolves Pſal. 75. 10. all the horns of the wicked alſo will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous ſhall be exalted.

It then follows that we enquire of what great moment or conſequence it is that theſe ſhould be ſuch: and there is a threefold reſpect in which the high importance of it is …o be diſcovered by us.

I. In reſpect to the Glory of God.

Civil Rulers are Gods Vi…egerents here upon earth; hence they are ſom…imes honoured with the ti…le of Gods, Pſal. 82 6. I have ſaid ye are Gods. Government is Gods Ordinance; and thoſe that are Veſted with it, however mediately▪ introduced into it, have their right…ul autho…ity from him, Prov. 8. 15, 16. By me Kings Reign, and Princes Decree Justice▪ By me Princes Rule, and Nobles, even all the Judges of the Earth, and they that are from him, ſhould be for him, and ought to ſeek the Honour of him who is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords: which they only then do, when they manage their whole Intereſt and p. 14Power with a Deſign for his Glory; & accordingly manage themſelves in all their Miniſtrations by the Statutes of his Kingdom; which none will ever do, but they that are Juſt, Ruling in the Fear of God. Righteouſneſs and Religion flouriſhing in theſe, will be as a Torch on an Hill, whoſe Light and Influence will be vaſtly extenſive: every one will be advantaged to ſee their good works, and to Glorifie God for and in them. Their very Example will have the force of a Law in it, and win many by a powerful Attraction, to the avoiding of ſin, and practiſing of Righteouſneſs. They will be a good Copy, that many will be ambitious to write after: and their faithful Adminiſtrations will render them a Terror …o Evil Doers, and an Encouragement to them that do well; which will advance the very …nd of Government. Whereas the Evil Deportment, and Ill Management of Rulers, who are unjuſt, and void of the Fear of God, is an open ſcandal, and of a more pernicious tendency than the wickedneſs of others; inaſmuch as their Example is a diſcouragement to them that are well diſpoſed, and animates thoſe that are ſet in their hea…ts for iniquity, and they are thereby emboldned to ſhew their heads▪ and to declare their ſin as Sodom: hence p. 15that Remark of the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 12. 8. …he wicked walk on every ſide, when the vi…eſt men are exalted. Thoſe that would …ear their Teſtimony againſt Impiety and Debauchery, are frown…d on and neg…ected; and ſuch as would Nouriſh them are Countenanced: and either good Laws to ſuppreſs them are not provided, or they are laid by as things Obſolete, and of no Service: and thus all Abominations come in upon a People as a Flood, and the Name of God is wofully diſhonoured by this means: and hereupon the laſt and moſt excellent end of Government comes to be fruſtrated, and what is there that we can conceive to be of greater weight than this? if this be loſt, the Glory of ſuch a people is gone.

2 In regard to the weal of the People over whom they Rule.

A People are not made for Rulers, But Rulers for a People. It is indeed an Honour which God puts upon ſome above others▪ when he takes them from among the People, and ſets them up to Rule over them, but it is for the Peoples ſake, and the Civil felicity of them is the next end of Civil Policy; and the happineſs of Rulers p. 16is bound up with theirs in it. Nor can any wiſe men in authority think themſelves happy in the Miſery of their Subjects, to whom they either are or ſhould be as Children are to to their Fathers: We have the Benefit of Government expreſſed, 1. Tim. 2: 2. a quiet Life and a peacable, in all Godlineſs and honeſty. and it lies eſpe…ialy with Rulers, under God, to make a People Happy or Miſerable. When men can injoy their Liberties and Rights without moleſtation or oppreſſion; when they can live without fear of being born down by their more Potent Neighbours; when they are ſecured againſt Violence, and may be Righted againſt them that offer them any injury, without fraud; and are encouraged to ſerve God in their own way, with freedom, and without being impoſed upon contrary to the Goſpel precepts; now are they an happy People. But this is to be expected from none other but men juſt and Pious: they that are otherwiſe, will themſelves be oppreſſour▪ and they that are influenced by them, and dependent on them, will adde to the g…i… ▪ vance. They that ſhould look after them Will Do it faſt enough: Yea every one will …ſurp a Licenſe to do ſo to his Neighbour upon an advantage: and ſuch a people muſt needs groan under an intollerable p. 17burden. Beſides, it is a great Truth, …hat the Mercies and Judgments of God come upon a people, according as their Rulers carry themſelves in managing of the Truſt which God hath committed to them. Juſt and Zealous Rulers, are men that Stand in the Gap, and keep off Judgments from a ſinning people; God ſought for one ſuch, Ezek. 22. 30. they turn away wrath, when it hath made an inroad, ſo it is recorded of Phinehas that he did, Pſ 106. 30. and God is wont to bleſs ſuch a People, as He did Iſrael and Judah in the days of David, Solomon, Jehoſhaphat, Hezekiah, and Joſiah: wheras when theſe fall into ſuch ſins as God is Provoked at, the People are like to Smart for it. There is ſuch an Influence with the Prevarications of theſe men, that, in the righteous judgment of God, thoſe under them ſuffer grievouſly by it. This the Heathen obſerved in the courſe of Providence, and made that remark upon it, Delirant reges, plectuntur Achivi. Thus David numbers the People, and Seventy Thouſand of the men of Iſrael die for it, 2 Sa▪ 24. Yea ſuch may be the influence of the Male-adminiſtration of Rulers, though done without malice, and in an heat of miſguided zeal for the People of GOD; as Sauls act in Slaying the Gibeonites is recorded to p. 18have been▪ 2 Sam 21 2. that the Guilt may …y long upon a Land, and break out in Terrible Judgments a great while after, and not be expiated till the ſin be openly confeſſed, and the Atonement ſought unto.

3 With Reference to Rulers themſelves. It is, as we before Obſerved, a Dignity put upon them, to be preferred to Government over their Brethren; to have the overſight, not of Beaſts, but of Men. But as there is a great Truſt devolved on them, ſo there is an anſwerable Reckoning which they muſt be called unto: And however they are ſetled in Authority by men, yet GOD, who Rules over all, hath put them in only Durante Bene I …cito: they are upon their good Behaviour; they are Stewards, and whenſoever GOD pleaſeth, He will call for a Reckoning, and put them out. GOD ſ…ts up, and he pulls down; and he hath a reſpect to men… Carriages in his dealings with them. Godly and Zealous Phinehas got a Bleſſing for himſelf and his Poſterity, Numb. 25. 11. &c. Whereas Sa…l procured for himſelf a Rejection, and the laying aſide and almoſt Ex…i…patlon of his Family. We have this alſo inſtanced in Shebna and Eli… Iſ…. 22. 15. &c. Yea, what did Jeroboam, what did Ahab, and many others procure p. 19for themſelves, by their ill Government, but the utter rooting out of their Names▪ and Poſterity? The Fourth Generation may Rue that ever they derived from ſuch Progenitors. The only ſure way for Rulers to build up their own Houſes, is to be ſuch in their places as David was, of whom we have that Teſtimony, Pſal. 78. 71, 72. He brought him to Feed Jacob his People, and Iſrael his Inheritance. So he Fed them according to the Integrity of his heart, …ad guided them by the Skilfulneſs of his hands. And although GOD doth not always peculiarly put a Brand in this World upon Impious and Unjuſt Rulers, yet there is a Tribunal before which they muſt ſtand e're long as other men; only their Account will be ſo much the more Fearful, and Condemnation more Tremendous, by how much they have neglected to take their greater advantages to Glorify GOD, and abuſed their Power to His Diſhonour, by which they had a fairer opportunity than other men.

p. 20USE. All that I have to Offer by way of Improvement, ſhall be in a Threefold Commendation of this TRƲTH to us.

1. Let me propoſe it to ſuch in whoſe hands it is to Appoint the Perſons that are to bear Rule over this People; whether for the making of Laws to Govern by, or the putting o… ſuch as are made into Execution: Whether Counſellors, Aſſembly-Men, or J…ſtices of the Peace. Let this be your directory in ex…rting of this right. Civil Government is ſea…ed in no particular Perſons or Families by a Natural right, neither hath the Light o… Nature, no… the Word of GOD determined in particular, what Form of Government ſhall be Eſtabliſhed among men, whether Monarchical, Ari…t…c…tical, or D…mocratical: much leſs, who are individually▪ to be acknowledged in Authority, and accordingly ſubmitted to. Nevertheleſs the H…ly Providence of GOD preſides p. 21in this matter; ſometimes, by a more. Immedi…te, and Extraordinary pointing to the Perſons and Families: when by Revelation he declares his pleaſure in it. Thus was Saul ſet up over the Kingdom of Iſrael; and afterwards David was thus choſen of God, and an Entail made o… the Crown on his Poſterity: but this way hath long ſince ceaſed. Someitmes it is more mediate and ordinary, and that is, either Forcible, when God Judi…ially delivers a People …p to the will of their enemies, and the Conquerour gives Laws to, and appoints Rulers over ſuch a People at his pleaſure, and they are compelled to accept o… them, little to their content: which, as is not Elegi…le, ſo neither is it wont to be of duration: things violent uſ… not to be Permanent. Or voluntary, which is by the free conſent of a People, orderly, and without Compul…on eſtabliſhing the Fundamentals of Government among themſelves, and the methods of introducing Perſons into autho…i…y: which Methods are not preſcribed in Scripture, but remain points of Prude…ce, and may Lawfully be divers here and there. There are yet general Rules which both reaſon and Religion do point men to attend in this Caſe; and the weal or wo o… a People do p. 22very much depend therupon. And as it is a thing very grateful to men to have ſome hand and conſent in the appointment of their own Rulers, ſo they do either make or mar themſelves by the uſing or abuſing of ſuch a liberty. Whe… this power is Immediately devolved upon ſome perſons, they have great advantage to procure either the happineſs or miſery of their People. Such Electors therefore are under the obligation to be very wary in the application of themſelves to the Nomination of the perſons for ſuch a truſt. A good Charter is Doubtleſs Preferible to a bad one; it is a great Priviledge to be ſecured from being hurt by any but our ſelves: but, let Charter Privileges be never ſo Excellent, Good Rulers only can make us Happy under them: and if they are not ſo, we ſuffer notwithſtanding.

Here then you are told what qualities are to be eyed in thoſe whom you fix your Choiſe upon. Whatſoever other Rules diſcretion may point to be obſerved in this affair, yet theſe muſt always be of the Quorum. It is true, there are none without their failings; nor can we expect that the beſt of men will never do amiſs; but yet p. 23the Beſt are to be preferred, as they that will do i… ſ…ldomeſt, and never of deſign. They that Fear God will be afraid wilfully to hurt men; they that are juſt will do juſtice, & that ca… wrong none. This is it which advantageth all other gifts, whether natural or acqui…ed, to be truely ſerviceable to the promoting of the w…l…re of a People: without this, the more that men have of theſe, they a… ſo much the more advantaged to do … There is no miſery greater, or leſs … than what men fooliſhly bring on themſ…lves; and none will be equally blamed …o… …, a… t…ey who were the guilty occaſions of it, or more deſerve it. Chuſe ſuch men, and then you may expect to be ſo Govern…d: if you deſire that H…lineſs, and Righteouſneſs may be promoted and encouraged, this i… the beſt ſtroak that you can give to i…: if you have a mind that Prophaneneſs, and Deba…ch…ry ſho…ld take place, and bear all down, here is the readieſt way for it.

And if you will keep to the Rule pr… ſcribed in our T…xt, …eware of being miſguided by Special Favour, Bri…ery or Faction

When Perſons ſhall be crowded in, becauſe p. 24they are our Friends, or have gaine… a room in our affections, without any reſpec… to their meetneſs, out what our blind paſſions judge of; or that they may hav… a way to ſupport themſelves by the Govern… ment; it is eaſy to tell what is to be expected.

When places of Truſt in Governmen… are bought and ſold, and he ſhall have the… that will give moſt for them, we may wel… con…lude▪ that ſuch a People are bought and ſold too, and muſt only ſerve to make a good Market of.

When a People are divided into Factions▪ Juſt, and Wiſe, and good Men are renounced, & not thought worthy to be made uſe of, becauſe they favour not the Party that can ſway; and ſuch as are ho…ly zealous for the deſign, are counted, meerly by that zeal ſufficiently qualified, and to be of all moſt worthy; this will not p…omote the Publick Good, but only gain to the one ſide a little more of advantage to do hurt.

2▪ Let me humbly offer this as a Copy for all that either are, or may be in place of Rule, to W…ite after, Allow me the …iberty p. 25to ſay this from GOD; that by what…oever Titles of, Excellent, Honourable, or Wor…hipful, you are known; you not only Rule …nder ſuch as are your Superiors on Earth▪ unto whom you are accountable for what you do; but under GOD alſo, who is your Great SOVERAIGN. Your Authority is from Him, and ought therefore to be for Him, elſe will you be found falſe to your Truſt. You Rule over His Subjects, and that not only upon a common account, as the whole World is His Kingdom, but one more Special, as the People under your Watch, are the Subjects of His GOSPEL KINGDOM: if you do that which is Right to them, He will be Pleaſed. but if you ſhould do otherwiſe, their APPEAL is open to Him, and there is a COURT that will be called, wherein their CAUSE ſhall be Heard, and Adjuſted.

Be you entreated, to meaſure all your …dminiſtration by this R…l…: Do all juſtly and in the fear of God. This is the way to be Bleſſings in your places, and to be the Bleſſed of the Lord. By this courſe you will make your people an happy people, and you your ſelves ſhall be Eſtabliſhed. Thus ſhall you pull down a bleſſing on your own p. 26heads, and upon the Land you dwell i… This is the way to be the Repairers of breaches, and the Reſtorers of paths to dwell in.

To this end, be entreated to take care that Religion may Flouriſh; the True Fear o… GOD, and Right Adminiſtration of His Ordinances may be Promoted and Secured: that Righteouſneſs may be done for men, and that Iniquity which defiles a Land, and pull… down Wrath, may be Purged away: that Drunkenneſs, and Swearing, Fornication, and Sabbath-Prophanation, and whatſoever haſtens the Calamity of a Profeſſing People, may be du…ly bo…n Witneſs againſt. Let this be your Sincere Unb…aſſed Aim in all that you do.

Carry this with you, & let it Rule in the making of Laws: let the Word of GOD be conſulted, and the Common Utility of the Subject be deſigned: For, though there be not a Body of Civil Laws drawn up in the Scriptures, to which every Pol…ity is to be confined, yet there are ſufficient general directions, & Rules, to be gathered from thence; which may Regulate in this Affair.

p. 27Take heed of any Siniſter Aims in whatſoever Laws do paſs: Laws made do ſtrengthen a particular ſeparate Intereſt, never did Good, but Hurt to a Body-Politick: that which may ſerve the preſent turn, may in a little time prove more Miſchievous, than ever it was Advantageous. Remember, you cannot Repeal ſuch Laws, when you will, or when you have advanced a deſign with them. Look then forward to the after Iſſues. It will be no ſmall Aggravation of our Trouble, to be Wounded with a Shaft of our own making. Look for Changes in a World of Mutability, and lay in, as far as innocent Prudence may direct, for your Own, and your Peoples Safety.

Keep to this alſo in all your Adminiſtration or Application of Laws. Maintain a good Conſcience in it, and let the Fear of God, and a Principle of Justice make you … lay aſide all Siniſter Reſpects. Let not Perſons but Things Sway you in all your Diſpenſations; and when the caſe is the ſame, let the ſame ſentence proceed from …ou: let neither Riches nor Poverty turn the Scale; neither Friendſhip nor Enmity Spoil the Sentence. Take no Gift in ſecret p. 28to ſtop or Pervert Juſtice; nor miſapply your power to take private or perſonal Revenge. When Caſes are plain, do not obſcure them; and when they are dubious Search them out: and let not flattery or Impudence prevail over you, but take his advice in 2. Chron 16. 9. Thus ſhall you do in the fear of the Lord, faithfully, and with a perfect heart, Deal couragiouſly, and the Lord ſhall be with the good.

Remember the cauſe is Gods, and he will have the calling of it over again; where he will either applaud your fidelity, or condemn your unfaithfulneſs.

Do ſo alſo in your Exemplary converſation. Do not do that your ſelves, which you ought in Duty, and oath, to puniſh in others; Embolden not wicked men to tranſgreſs by your example, and to excuſe themſelves upon your account. That Man who Will Violate the Laws which He is to Rule by, will ſoon neglect to Exec… them on others, and bring reproach on himſelf where he doth.

3 Let it afford matter of Inſtruction … us all.

p. 29Are theſe the Eminent Qualifications of good Rulers? it is no ſmall concern that we have in this affair. It tells us that we ought Earneſtly to Pray to God that we may have ſuch always: and we pray for our ſelves when we ſo do.

Whatſoever other influence we may have into the appointment of thoſe that are to Govern us, there is none that can hinder us of this but our ſelves. God Overrules the L…t, he Determines the Hearts of men, and he can make men after his own Heart: he Preſides over every Election; and if we can prevail with him by importunate Prayer, our buſineſs is done. It is one of the Bleſſings that he will be ſought unto for, by the Houſe of Iſrael.

It calls us to be thankful to him for ſuch when he beſtows them upon us. God …ot a little diſplays his kindneſs to a people, when it is thus; and expects their gratitude to him for ſo Comprehenſive a Mercy: there is nothing will ſooner loſe … benefit than Ingratitude.

Let us Encourage them that are ſuch, and that by … Cheerful acknowledgment p. 30of them, Contentation under them, and candid Interpretation of them.

We are Governed by men of like infirmitis with ourſelves, wonder not if ſometimes they diſcover ſomething of them: but when we know that their cordial endeavours are to do that which is right, and promote o…r peacable and Godly Living, let thi… pleaſe us.

And beware of Murmurings; GOD will not take it well of us, and can eaſily let us know a difference: and it is an Obſervation that ſeldom miſſeth; That they who are moſt addicted to, are ſooneſt weary of Changes.

In a Word, let us beware leſt we provoke an Holy and Jealous God to anger ſo as to give us men of another Spirit to Rule over us, or to withdraw His Spirit from them that do, and leave them to do things inconvenient.

Evil Rulers, and the Male-Adminiſtrations of good ones, are puniſhments which GOD doth inflict on a people that have provoked him to Anger againſt them, GOD gave Saul to Iſrael in his Wrath; and he left David p. 31to Number the people becauſe His Anger was kindled againſt Iſrael.

If we Apoſtatiſe from GOD, and grow weary of his ways, he knows how to Scourge us after this manner; and hath, not ſeldom, done ſo by his people on ſuch occaſions.

But if we be a people Fearing GOD and Keeping of His Commandments, He will Delight in us to Bleſs us, and to do us Good: and to give us Rulers after his own Preſcription, Juſt Men, and Ruling …n the Fear of God.

FINIS.

End of the text · Samuel Willard, The Character of a Good Ruler (1694)