The Signal Loyalty and Devotion of Gods Saints, Part 1 · Chapter 1
CHAP. I.
THE firſt Preſidents I meet with of Frayers made to God for Kings, are ſuch as are recorded in Scripture, before the Law was given in Mount Sinai, or any King inſtituted by God among his own people of Iſrael, of which there are 3. remarkable Inſtances, ſeldom taken notice of, which I ſhall recite, explicate and apply in order as I find them.
The 1. is that of Abraham, *Rom. 4. 1 12, 16, 17.the Father of all faithfull believers, thus regiſtred to poſterity, Gen. 20. Abraham and his wife Sarah ſo journing at Gerar, Abimelech KING of Gerar ſent and took Sarah: but God came to him by night in a dream, and ſaid, Thou art but a dead man, for the woman thou haſt taken, for ſhe is married to an husband: And God ſaid unto him in a dream, v. 7. Now therefore restore the man his wife, for he is a Prophet, and he ſhall pray for thee, and thou ſhalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou, that thou ſhalt ſurely die, thou and all that are thine. Therefore Abimelech roſe early in the morning, and called Abraham, and after ſome expoſtulations with him, reſtored him his wife, and gave him ſheep and oxen, men ſervants and women ſervants; profering him to dwell in the land where he pleaſed. So Abraham prayed unto God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife, and his maid-ſervants, and they bare children; for the Lord had faſt cloſed up all the wombs of the houſe of Abimelech, becauſe of Sarah Abrahams wife…. 17, 18.
In which Hiſtory there are 6. obſervable particulars worthy our conſideration: 1. That thoſe who are but meer ſojourners under Kings in any part of their kingdoms, though not their natural born ſubjects (as Abraham was here at Gerar under K. Abimelech) *See Cooks 7 Rep. Calvins caſe, f. 6, 7. 1 Inſtit. f. 68 b Spelmanni Gloſſarium, Tit. Fidelitas, & Ligeantia.owe local allegiance to them, and are bound to pray unto God for their health, life, proſperity, eſpecially upon extraordinary occaſions, as Abraham did here; Therefore à multo fortiori, their own natural Subjects and Lieges, are much more obliged thereunto by the bond of duty, loyalty, and Laws of God and Nature. 2ly. That Abraham, the Father of all the faithfull, is the very firſt preſident recorded in ſacred writ, or other Hiſtory, who prayed for the perſon and family of the King under whom he lived and ſojourned: that ſo ‖See Rom. 4. 1, 10 25. Heb. 7. 4, to 10.his example might be obligatory and preſidential to all other faithful people, ſervants and ſaints of God in all ages and places, as well Gentiles as Jewes, who ought to follow his ſteps herein. 3ly. That he thus prayed for Abimelech and his family, though (as moſt conceive) a heathen idolatrous King, and no worſhipper of the true God; as Abrahams words to Abimelech v. 11. (Becauſe I thought, ſurely the fear of God is not in this place, and they will ſlay me for my wives ſake, and Gen. 21. 32, 34.) import. Therefore the Saints and people of God, ought to pray to God for their Kings and their Families, though Pagans, Infidels, Papiſts, Hereticks, much more then when they are worſhippers, profeſſors of the true God and Religion; yea Chriſtians and Patrons of the Goſpel of Jeſus Chriſt. 4ly. That Abraham here prayed for Abimelech, his wife, family, not of his own voluntary accord, but by ſpecial direction and command from God: Therefore prayer for Kings, & their families, is no human, arbitrary invention, action, which may be omitted or performed at mens pleaſure; but a divine inſtitution, precept, duty, which muſt be conſtantly performed out of conſcience, in obedience to Gods command. 5ly. That this prayer of Abraham was not confined only to King Abimelechs own perſon, but extended to his wife, maid-ſervants, and poſterity; and was principally, that God would open their wombs, which he had faſt …ſed, that they might bear children; which they bare after Abraham prayed for them unto God, v. 17, 18. that ſo there might be an hereditary ſucceſſion of his children after him in the kingdom. Therefore Subjects (eſpecially in hereditary kingdoms) are obliged not only to pray for their Kings own perſons, but alſo for their Queens, families, the multiplication and continuance of their royal poſterity, to ſway the ſcepter, and ſucceed them in the throne; even by this original preſident of Abrahams prayer. Which compared with Abrahams Oath and Covenant to Abimelech, who ſware unto him by God; That he would not lie unto, nor deal falſly with Abimelech, nor with his Son, nor with his Sons Son; but according to the kindneſs he had done unto Abraham, that he ſhould do unto him, and to the land wherein he had ſojourned, Gen. 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 31, 32. is a moſt pregnant argument not only of the lawfulneſs of Subjects Oaths of Fealty, Homage, Allegiance and Supremacy to their Kings, their heirs and ſucceſſors, but likewiſe of the antiquity, and inviolable obligation of ſuch Oathes, which ought to be conſcienciouſly obſerved without lying, falſhood, or the leaſt violation, by all who ſwear them, in the ſacred name of the true everlaſting God. 6ly. That all Subjects are then moſt principally obliged to pray for their Kings and their families, when they lie under any judgements or afflictions of God for their ſins, becauſe then they moſt need their prayers, as a ſpecial means preſcribed by God to remove his judgements, reſtore his favour, bleſſings to them, preſerve, lengthen their lives, and make them fruitfull in poſterity.
The 2. Preſident I ſhall inſiſt on is this, related Gen. 47. 7, 10. And Joſeph brought in Jacob his Father (after his coming down into Aegypt) and ſet him before Pharaoh, and Jacob bleſſed Pharaoh, ſo ſoon as hee came before him: After ſome diſcourſe between them, at his departure from him, it is recorded again: And Joſeph bleſſed Pharaoh (the ſecond time) and went out from before Pharaoh. Now this his double bleſſing of Pharaoh, both at his coming in to, and departing from him, was nothing elſe, but a double prayer to God to beſtow all kinds of bleſſings on King Pharaoh, and his poſterity; as is evident by Gen. 24. 60. c. 27. 1, to 41. c. 28. 1, 3, 4. c. 48. 8. to the end, and ch. 49. 1, to 29. compared with this Text.
From whence it is remarkable, 1. That as Abraham the Father of the faithfull, was the firſt; ſo Jacob his Grandſon, the father of the 12. Patriarks, was the 2d. perſon recorded in ſacred Story, who prayed for and bleſſed the King in whoſe kingdom he reſided; whoſe example is very preſidential for all others, and worthy their imitation. 2ly. That Jacob was no natural born Subject to Pharaoh, but only a ſtranger and ſojourner in Aegypt; yet he thus bleſſed and prayed for him: Therefore his and all other Kings genuine Subjects, were much more obliged by duty and allegiance to pray for and bleſſe them. 3ly. That he thus prayed for and bleſſed him twice, at his firſt acceſſe to, and receſſe from his preſence; which ſhould inſtruct all loyal Saints and Chriſtian Subjects frequently to bleſſe and pray for their Kings and Princes, both in their acceſſes to, and receſſes from them, and upon all other juſt occaſions, as well in private as publike. 4ly. That he thus bleſſed and prayed for Pharaoh though a Pagan King, under whom and his Succeſſors he and his poſterity were aſſured, they ſhould be made bond-man, and forely oppreſſed for 400. years, till God ſhould reſcue and bring them out of Aegypt by a ſtrong hand, Gen. 15. 13, 14, 15, 16. Exod. 12. 40. 41. Acts 7. 6. 7. To teach us, that all loyal Subjects, Saints, Chriſtians ought to bleſſe, pray for, not only their godly, chriſtian, orthodox, Religious Kings, who protect, preſerve them in their Religion, Laws, Liberties; but even for their Pagan, Heretical Kings, and ſuch who afflict, oppreſſe, perſecute them; and not to curſe, depoſe, murder, deſtroy, or rebell againſt them, Mat. 5 43, 44, 45. Luke 6. 27, 28, 29. c. 23, 24. Acts 8. 60. Rom. 13. 1, 2, 3. c. 12. 19, 20, 21. 1 Tim. 2. 1, 2, 3. 1 Pet. 2. 18, to 25. contrary to the practice, tenents of the Saints, ſubjects of this degenerate, apoſtate, treacherous, and perfidious age. 5ly. That one part of Gods and mens bleſſing of Kings, is, that they may have a numerous, continuing progeny, permanent Houſe, and royal iſſue to ſucceed them in the throne, and reign over their Nations and Kingdoms, in happineſſe, peace, ſafety, proſperity for many generations, Gen. 17. 5, 6, 7. 16. 2 Sam. 7. 10. to the end 2 Chron. 6. 4, to 18. 1 Kings 8. 18, to 27. c. 11. 36, 37, 38. 2 Kings 10. 31. Pſ. 132. 11, 12. compared with Pſal. 128. 3 4, 5, 6. Gen. 24. 60. Which no doubt was one chief part of Jacobs bleſſing of and prayer for King Pharaoh; being one principle branch of the bleſſings he beſtowed on and wiſhed to his own Sons and Grandſons, when he bleſſed them before his death, Gen. 48. 15, 16, 19, 23. c. 49. 10. 22, 25, 28. Whence it inevitably followes, that it is the property, duty of all loyal, pious Saints, Chriſtians, people, cordially to pray for and deſire God to bleſſe their Kings with a numerous permanent royal iſſue and poſterity to ſucceed them in their royal thrones, and reign over them with all peace, ſafety, felicity; not to diſinherit, baniſh, abjure, extirpate their poſterities, and deprive them of their hereditary Crowns; which ſome now deem their Saintſhip, piety, honour, felicity to accompliſh.
The 3d. are the ſeveral prayers and ſupplications that Moſes made for King Pharaoh, the grand oppreſſor, enthraller, afflicter of the Iſraelites, (when *Exod. 1. 6, to the end. c. 2. 23, 24, 25. c. 3. 7, 8, 9, 10. Acts 7. 18 to 35.God ſent him to reſcue them from their intollerable bondage under him and his Officers) to remove thoſe very plagues which God himſelf inflicted on Pharaoh and his Aegyptians, thereby to deliver them from their vaſſallage and bring them out thence to the promiſed Land: thus recorded by Moſes himſelf, Exod. 8. 8. to 14. When the frogs came up and covered the land of Aegypt; then Pharaoh called for Moſes and Aaron, and ſaid, Intreat the Lord that he may take away the frogs from me and from my people, and I will let the people go, that they may do ſacrifice to the Lord. And Moſes ſaid to Pharaoh, Glory over me; againſt when ſhall I intreat for thee and for thy Servants, and for thy People, to deſtroy the frogs from thee, and thy houſes, that they may remain in the river only? And he ſaid, to morrow. And Moſes ſaid, be it according to thy word, that thou mayst know that there is none like unto the Lord our God: and the frogs ſhall depart from thee, and from thy houſes, and from thy ſervants, and from thy people, they ſhall remain in the River only. And Moſes and Aaron went out from Pharaoh. And Moſes cryed unto the Lord becauſe of the frogs which he had brought againſt Pharaoh: And the Lord did according to the word of Moſes, and the frogs dyed out of the Houſes, out of the Villages, and out of the Field, v. 29, 30, 31. Moſes intreated the Lord, that the ſwarms of frogs he ſent might depart from Pharaoh, from his Servants, and from his Pople. And the Lord did according to the word of Moſes, and he removed the frogs at Pharaohs request, there remained not one. After this Moſes intreated the Lord to remove the mighty Thunder and Hail he had ſent, ſpreading abroad his hands unto the Lord in prayer for that end, and they ceaſed, Exod. 9. 28, 29, 33. The like he did at his Intreaty, to remove the plague of Locuſts, Exod. 10 7, 18, 19.
From theſe Preſidents and practice of Moſes, I ſhall deduce theſe genuine ſeaſonable Obſervations. 1. ThateExod. 1 8. c. 2. 1, to 16. Act. 7. 20, to 32. Hebr. 11 23, 24, 25. Moſes being born in Egypt, and bred up in Pharaohs Court, was rather a Native ſubject to King Pharaoh, than a mere Sojourner and Foreiner, as Abraham and Jacob were to Abimelech and Pharaoh; (though he had been abſent thence about forty years;) it thence follows from the premiſes, That Subjects as well as Sojourners, are bound by duty and allegeance to pray for their Kings and people. 2ly. Moſes was enforced tofExod. 1. 11, to 16. Acts 7. 24, to 30. fly out of Egypt to ſave his life, becauſe Pharaoh ſought to ſlay him for killing an Egyptian, who ſmote and oppreſſed an Hebrew, one of his Brethren: and this Pharaoh to whom God ſent him, and for whom he thus prayed four times after each other, was not only a Pagan-Idolater, but in all probability the Kings Son, or Grand-ſon, who ſought to ſlay him, Aegypt being an hereditary Kingdom, as Iſay 19. 11. and all Hiſtorians record. Yea both theſe Pharaohs, with two or more of their Anceſtors, and their Officers, did gExod 1. 8, to 22 c. 2. 1, to 23. c 3. 6, to 11. Acts 7. 18, to 35. Pſ. 105 25.extraordinarily oppreſs the Iſraelites, cauſing all their Male-children they could meet with to be drowned in the River, but ſuch as the Midwives preſerved againſt their commands, afflicting them by their Task-maſters, heavy burdens, rigorous ſervice, and hard bondage, which made their lives bitter, and cauſed them to ſigh, groan, and cry unto the Lord by reaſon of the bondage, who thereupon heard their cry, and ſaw their oppreſſion, and remembred his Covenant made with Abraham, Iſaac, and Jacob, to reſcue them from their Thraldom, yet notwithſtanding Moſes prayed four times to remove the Plagues God had inflicted on Pharaoh, his Servants and people; and no waies endeavoured to deprive, or diſinherit them either of their Lives, Crowns, or Succeſſion, thoughhNumb. 12. 7. Pſ. 90. 1. Pſ. 106. 23. a choſen Servant, Man, and Saint of God, iExod. 3, & 4, to c. 15 Acts 7. 30, to 37. Pſ. 105. 26, to 30.commiſſioned, and ſent by God himſelf to deliver the Iſraelites from their bondage under Pharaoh, and bring them out of Egypt. Whence I ſhall irrefragably infer, That the eminenteſt choſen Saints, Men and Servants of God, yea all other loyal Subjects ought chearfully to obey and pray for, not only their Pagan, Idolatrous, but perſecuting and oppreſſing Kings, and their royal Poſterity; and though they may uſe all lawfull means to deliver themſelves and fellowſubjects from their unjuſt tyranny, bondage, oppreſſions; yet they neither lawfully can, nor ought forcibly to dethrone, diſinherit them, or their Poſterities of their Crowns, nor rebel againſt, or deprive them of their lives by tumultuous Inſurrections, Aſſaſſinations, and High Courts of Juſtice. 3ly.Mat. 5. 43, 44, 45 See page 1. That Godly perſecuted, oppreſſed Subjects, may and ought to pray for the removal of thoſe Judgements which God himſelf inflicts upon their oppreſſive, perſecuting Kings, their Servants, People, ſucceſſively one after another, for thoſe perſecutions, tyrannies, oppreſſions, under which they groan and cry, of purpoſe to bring them to repentance, and deliver them from their bondage, preſſures, vexations under them; as Moſes did in this caſe of Pharaoh, his Officers and the Egyptians for the removal of 4 grievous Plagues inflicted upon them one after another by God himſelf, and Moſes and Aaron as his Inſtruments.
Thus much concerning theſe moſt memorable, antient Preſidents, before the Law and Kings of Iſrael, which none have hitherto preſſed or inſiſted on in this kind, to my knowledge, as I have done.