Concerning Ministers Meddling with State Matters in their Sermons, application · Section 4
Of the proper works of Magiſtrates and Miniſters jointly.
Concerning the proper works of the Magiſtracy and Miniſtery, as they relate unto the ends for which Chriſt doth employ them in his ſervice; they muſt be diſcovered by looking upon the aime which God hath in making them that which they are, and which they ought to have in taking their places upon them.
The end which God hath in making ſuch officers amongſt men is mainly this, to manifeſt the glory of his own goodneſſe and his ſupremacy in all things over mankind. For the Lord hath made all things for himſelf firſt; andProv. 16. 4 Pſal. 8. then alſo for man, that in the right uſe of all things under God, man might ſhew forth his glory; and thereby attain to true happineſſe: for happineſſe in man is nothing elſe but to partake (ſo farre as he is capable) of the goodneſſe of God, which is his glory towards us. Now the goodneſſe of God in the hand of his Supremacy diſpenſing all things, runnes in two Channels, which anſwer to the twofold faculties of the life of man; to the two ſorts of Creatures which God hath made in the world, and to the twofold way of putting forth his infinite vertues: the two faculties of the life of man, are Bodily and Spirituall; the two ſorts of creatures which God hath filled the world with, are ſome viſible, and ſome inviſible; and the twofold way of putting forth his vertue is, by Nature and by Grace. In theſe channels the glory of God is conveighed by the creatures unto the faculties of man; that all may partake thereof and become happie therein, and that one creature in the way of God may conveigh the ſame to another. Now that man, who is borne like a wilde aſſes colt, may be directed by the rightJob 11. 12. uſe, both of his faculties, and of the creatures, to attaine to his happineſſe; God hath appointed ſome inſtruments, to lead him towards the way thereof, which are called Magiſtrates and Miniſters: and leſt theſe, who by nature are neither wiſer nor better then all the reſt, ſhould be ignorant of the true way wherein they ought to direct others, he hath given to them both, one Supream head and director, his onelyonly begotten Son Jeſus Chriſt, by whom the worlds viſible and inviſible were made; by whom the Father hath brought back all things unto himſelf again, which were at a diſtance from him, by reaſon of the curſe: by whom all things bodily and ſpirituall in man are reſtored to their integritie, and inabled to act towards God: by whom all the creatures ſubſiſt, and are made again the receptacles of Gods goodneſſe in nature and grace, and by whom, and in whom alone all the manifeſtation of Gods goodneſſe is apparent, and the way to happineſſe by giving God his glory, is made plain in the nature of man: and therefore he is ſet as the head of all things over mankind, and given as the Soveraign Director of thoſe who are to direct others in the way to felicity, as well Bodily as Spirituall, as well by Nature as by Grace. Thus then Gods aime is to glorifie himſelf in his Son; and to glorifie his Son over all, and to glorifie mankind by making it happy in conformitie to his Son: and that the life and vertue of his Son, which is the fountain of Glory, and the ſpring of living waters, may as a river flow out and be diſperſed to all that ſtand in need of comfort: he hath ſet inſtruments under him, as conduit pipes in the two channels of his vertue, to conveigh the ſame unto others. Theſe Inſtruments are the forenamed Magiſtrates and Miniſters, who are ſet to receive from Chriſt all that which is diſpenſable unto humane ſocieties for their happineſſe.
Between theſe two the Magiſtrate is firſt, for the Apoſtle ſaith, that was not firſt which is ſpirituall, but that which is naturall, and afterward that which is ſpirituall. 1 Cor. 15. 46. the Miniſter therefore is the ſecond in order: for all his adminiſtrations preſuppoſe a man to be under the government, and in the right channell of nature; or at leaſt capable of the adminiſtrations belonging thereunto: ſo then God hath made the Magiſtrate to ſtand by himſelf under Chriſt in the diſpenſation of the means of naturall felicitie, that he mayPſal. 2. 10, 11, 12. learn of him as his diſciple, how to manifeſt the glory of Gods goodneſſe unto all fleſh.