The Magistrates Commission from Heaven, Title page – Dedication
THE MAGISTRATES COMMISSION FROM HEAVEN. Declared In a SERMON preached in Laurence jury, London, the 28. day of Sept. 1644. at the Election of the Lord Major. By Anthony Burgeſse, ſometimes Fellow of Immanuel Colledge in Cambridge; now Paſtour of Sutton Coldfield in Warwick ſhire, and a Member of the Aſſembly.
Imprimatur
THOMAS GATAKER.
LONDON, Printed by George Miller for Thomas Ʋnderhill at the Bible in Woodſtreet. 1644.
TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE Sr John Wollaston Knight, Lord Major; AND To the Right Honourable Thomas Atkin Eſquire, Lord Major Elect of the Citie of London.
Right Honourable,
IT is a ſerious and grave reſolution of CALVIN, Calvin. in 1. Epiſt. in Tim. cap. 2.Tenendum eſt illud principium, &c. That principle and maxime is firmely to be kept, viz. That Magiſtrates are appointed by God, to ſafeguard, and preſerve Religion and publike honesty, even as the earth is ordained to bring forth fruit for nouriſhment, and therefore as when we pray for our daily bread, we alſo intreat God to make the earth fertile and fruitfull; ſo when we pray, that Christs Kingdome may come; we alſo beſeech God to raiſe up Magiſtrates, that may preſerve and propagate his truth; But as the earth is many times curſed, becauſe of the ſins of the inhabitants thereof, ſo God for the iniquities of a Nation, raiſeth up Governours in his wrath, to be a ſcourge to them; All which ſheweth the great neceſsitie of that injunction, to pray for Kings, and thoſe in Authoritie, that we may live a quiet and godly life under them; and this is the intent of the future diſcourſe, which by your Command is now publiſhed, that otherwiſe had been buried in ſilence: I have not launcht into that great queſtion, De jure Magiſtratus circa ſacra, though I have ſpoken a little obiter of it, The Magistracie and Ministry have their diſtinct bounds, and yet are mutually to help each other, Quamdiu Reſpublicae manent hoſpitia Eccleſiae, tamdiu ſint manſurae; As long as Common-wealths are Innes, like that in Bethlehem, to lodge Chriſt in, ſo long they will abide and flouriſh. I have adventured to joyne you both in the Dedication of this Sermon; partly, becauſe you both did incourage to the publiſhing of it: and partly, becauſe the Lord hath raiſed you both up in the place of Authority; The one being almost at his races end, and the other beginning his journey. The one having found the experience of Gods Protection in the managing of that Office, which is ſurrounded with ſo many diſcouragements; and the other needing all provocations not to faint in ſuch a publike worke: The Lord ſo bleſſe your Honours in this publike Service, that the whole Citie, yea, whole Kingdome may praiſe God for your Fidelitie, Prudence, and Piety therein.
Your Lordſhips, to ſerve you, ANTHONY BURGESSE.