Concerning Ministers Meddling with State Matters in their Sermons, application · Section 22 · complex remedies
Hitherto of the ſingle Remedies. The complicated follow as proper to the work of Magiſtrates and Miniſters. And why.
And thus much concerning the ſingle and diſtinct Remedies which every one in private for himſelf is to make uſe of; now it remaineth, to ſpeak alſo ſomething of the univerſal and complicated remedies, which all of us with reference one to another, ſhould ſeeke to apply unto our diſtracted publick Condition, to heale the diſtempers which occaſion the ſame, and although all are obliged to deſire and endeavour in their places the advancement hereof towards the publick; yet properly the procurement and the application thereof doth belong mainly to the Miniſtery, to the Magiſtracy in their ſeveral places, and that with a ſpecial Reference to each other in their publick Adminiſtrations towards the Communalty.
As then the complication of our diſtempers, doth beget an univerſal diſeaſe, both in Religious and Civil Affaires: So the general Remedies which flow from the fundamental duties of Love, of Righteouſnes, and of Peaceablenes, ought in a way of concurrence to be applyed, both to the Church and Common-wealth.
Now the Miniſters of the Goſpel are Meſſengers of Gods Love, and the Governours of the State are Miniſters of his Righteouſnes unto all men; and both theſe as well in reſpect of their particular imployments, as in reſpect of the common Profeſſion of Chriſtianity, are called by God, both unto the enjoyment of peace for themſelves, 1 Cor. 7. 15. Coloſ. 3. 15. and to the practice and procurement of it unto others, Rom. 12. 18. and Matth. 5. 9. therefore as the love of God, (that is, our obligation to love him) is the ground of all humane peace: So the peaceable cure of all publick diſtempers, and the firſt overtures and addreſſes thereunto, muſt needes reſult from the effects and properties of love, as it is Chriſtian, that is common to all, and ought principally to be reached out unto all, by the peaceable hand, the righteous carriage, and orderly behaviour of thoſe that are the Meſſengers of Divine Love.
And again, as nothing is truly love which doth not tend to a real good of him who is the object thereof; or is not intended as a real good towards the object, by him who is the Author thereof: So nothing can be counted, or will ever be found a real good, or is intended for ſuch unto any, which is neither applyed nor intended as from God.