Reformed Religion, Part 4
A Right Chriſtian-Subject.
FIrſt, He is one who acknowledgeth God himſelf to be the Supream Governour of the World, but yet that he doth execute his Government by Second Cauſes and Inſtruments, and particularly by Princes, and Magiſtrates, in their reſpective Provinces, Places, Kinds, and degrees of Power.
He alſo owneth the Providence of God, as the chief diſpoſer of the Governments of the World, and of the Perſons that under him do execute them; Setting up one and Removing another, and changing of Times and Seaſons as he pleaſeth; and whether they are ſent in Wrath, for Correction and Puniſhment; or in Mercy, for the Comfort and Eſtabliſhment of a People; he acknowledgeth a Divine hand in both.
He is one who is contented in his Station, and being a Subject, ſeeks rather to Obey well, than to Aſpire after Power and Government, which belong not to him; he conſidering the cares, fears, diſtractions, and dangers that attend high Places, which Men in a lower Sphere are freed from, whereby he rather Pities than Envies them: The Onus of Government for the moſt part outweighing the Honos of it.
He is careful, in the Firſt place, to diſcharge his Duty toward God, and therefore dares not yield Obedience to Men in any thing that is inconſiſtent with his Fealty, Allegiance, and Duty towards God; he knowing that he muſt Fear God as well as Honour the King, and that he that Fears not God, cannot be duly and truly Subject to Men; and that the Notion of a Deity, is no Enemy to Civil Government, by ſetting up a fear of God in Mens Hearts, above all other fear, as ſome Atheiſts have ſaid. His Religion teaches him Loyalty, but he makes not Loyalty his only Religion.
He is one who giveth Obedience to Magiſtrates, not meerly out of fear of Wrath, o… any outward Conſtraint, but of a ready Mind, in compliance with the Commands of God, and the Dictates of a well regulated Conſcience; and as he makes the Law of God, and the Laws of the Land conjunctim, the Meaſure o… his Obedience, ſo Conſcience is the Principle of it.
He is a follower of Peace and Concord, n… ſower of Strife and Sedition, no fomenter o… Diviſions, no Incendiary to kindle Flames; he knowing it is great diſſervice to the Rule… to have his People Divided, and injurious to the growth of the Nation, in Wealth, Strength, and Honour.
He will not entertain, much leſs promote groundleſs Jealouſies of Magiſtrates, whereby to diſaffect the Minds of the People, and ſo diminiſh their juſt Honour, and the Authority of their Government.
He is one induſtious in his Place and Calling, and ſerviceable to the Common-wealth of the Nation, though he be but in a mean Place and Station; the King himſelf being ſerved by the Field, and the Labour of the Plough-man; whereas Men that live like idle Drones, are neither uſeful to their Governours, nor the publick Welfare, and ſo are not, as they ought to be, good Subjects. As that is not a good Bee, that brings neither Wax nor Honey to the Hive, ſo in point of Arms, he is not a good Subject that will not uſe them in a juſt Cauſe, for the publick Good, upon Lawful Command, as well as he that takes them up without ſuch grounds.
He pays Tribute, Cuſtom, or whatever Tax is juſtly due to the Magiſtrate, for preſerving the Peace, Wealth, and Honour of the Government under which he lives, and according to his Duty and Ability, will help to defray that publick Charge which is neceſſary for his own, and the peoples Preſervation, in the Community of the Neighbourhood among whom he dwelleth.
He will not revile the Gods, and ſpeak evil of Rulers, nor raſhly cenſure their Actions, as knowing they may Act upon Reaſons of State, which are not known to him, nor fit to be made Publick; and will not oppoſe his private Sentiments to the publick Wiſdom of the State.
And as a good Subject, he is careful in his Place and Calling, to maintain thoſe Liberties and Immunities which are legally and juſtly due to the People; and will not baſely through Cowardiſe or Bribery, betray them to an Arbitrary Power. As a good Servant will carry it, as he ought, not only to his Maſter, but alſo to his fellow Servants; but herein he is careful to do nothing tumultuouſly, but according to Law, and Ancient Cuſtom, with peace and quietneſs; ſo that if any diſturbances ariſe, they may not lie at his Door; that Judgment may run forth like a River, and Righteouſneſs like a mighty Stream, and no ruſhing noiſe ariſe by interrupting the free courſe thereof.
He doth truly Honour, but not Idolize Rulers, gives not that Fear, Truſt, Honour, and Adoration to them, which are due to God alone; and as Men of Wiſdom, in high Place, affect not vain Applauſe, and to have their Perſons in Admiration above what is meet, (as we Read of ſome of the Heathen Emperors that they affected Divine Titles and Worſhip;) ſo a wiſe Subject, who truly Loves and Honours the Prince, will not ſpread a Snare for his Feet, by flattering Encomiums and Deiſying Venerations; as when the People ſhouted to Herod's Oration, It is the Voice of a God, and not of a Man; it proved in the iſſue no honour nor kindneſs to him.
Again, He will not be found in any wicked Conſpiracies againſt Lawful Governours, and abhors thoſe Principles, which juſtifie the Lawfulneſs of Killing and Aſſaſſinating Princes upon the account of Religion, or any account whatſoever; but thinks himſelf obliged to detect and diſcover them, when they come to his knowledge: neither will he publiſh falſe News, or invent, or ſcatter Seditious Libels, in deſign to exaſperate the Minds of People, and diſturb the peace of the Nation.
Laſtly, A good Chriſtian Subject judgeth himſelf Obliged continually, to Pray to Almighty God, for the Peace and Welfare of the place where he dwelleth, and of the Civil Government under which he is protected, that he may live a peaceable Life, in all Godlineſs and Honeſty; and will take heed of that Sin and Wickedneſs, which bring down the Judgments of God upon a Nation: And to ſpeak truly, to be a right Subject, requires a Man to be a true Chriſtian: As Conſtantine, or rather Conſtantius, is ſaid once to make tryal of his Servants, by ſuch a Teſt, ſaying, Qui in Deum, etiam in Imperatorem, perfidi eſſent. Sozomen, Lib. 1. Cap. 6. They who are perfidious to God, will not be true to their Prince.
Thus, I have run briefly through many particulars, and given the World a ſhort Taſte, what Chriſtianity is, and if it run in the Truth and power of it, through Men, in all Degrees, Ranks, and Relations, it will make us an happy People in this World, and that which is to come.
The Nation I know, hath been ſadly divided, and in this woful State, that one part of the Nation hath thought it their Intereſt to deſtroy the other; and the fooliſh Names whereby we have diſtinguiſht Men, proclaimed our Folly to the World, and argued the diſpleaſure of Heaven againſt us.
By many years Experience it is made evident, That there will never be Peace and Settlement in the Nation, if we do not ſomewhat Codneſcend to one another; and 'till there be ſome Settlement, Trading will decay, Induſtry will be diſcouraged; we ſhall have Breaking upon Breaking, and Men will not dare to truſt one another; and the Revenue of the King will ſuffer in the End. I find moſt Men ſatisfied in the Model and Frame of our Engliſh Government, Diſſenters, and all for the moſt part, and can ſwear Allegiance to it, unleſs a few odd People, who ſcruple all Oaths: And I believe after this unhappy, and threatning Storm of the Papiſts, is now as we hope blown over, and the Providence of God ſo eminently appeared in the ſudden ſcattering of it, mens Minds are much diſpoſed to quiet and ſettlement, eſpecially ſince their Majeſties acceptance of the Regal Power, and the Concurrence of the Lords and Commons therein; And is it not a brave ſight to ſee all ſorts of People to follow their ſeveral Vocations, without Diſtraction and Trouble? The Countrey-Farmer improving his Land and Stock, and paying well his Landlord: The Plowman following his Plough, the Carter to go Whiſtling by his Horſes ſide, the Sheppherd with his Dog attending his Sheep, the Shoomaker ſitting at his Laſt, the Taylor upon his Board, the Weaver at his Loom, the Smith at his Anvill, the Trades-man buſie in his Shop, and the Merchant exporting, and importing, to the enriching of the Nation? To ſee …o leading into Captivity, no complain…ng in our Streets; but Mens Swords turned …nto Plough-ſhares, and Spears into Pruning-…ooks; to which I may add with the Pſal…iſt, as the Concluſion of all, Happy is that …eople, who are in ſuch a Caſe, yea happy is that …eople whoſe God is the Lord. Pſal. 144. ult. v.
But if War ſhould ariſe, I hope it will not continue long, and the Ancient Proverb made good, Bellum in Angliâ non ſeneſcit: And that … will ſoon iſſue in an happy Peace. And …othing is likely more to ſhorten it, than a …rm Union amongſt our ſelves. England be…ng compared by the Hiſtorian to a great A…imal, that will not dye until it Kill it ſelf.