The Signal Loyalty and Devotion of Gods Saints, Part 1 · Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
I Proceed now to the laſt Claſſis of Preſidents for ſupplications, prayers, interceſſions, & thanſgivings for Kings under the Goſpel, where I ſhall begin with Jeſus Chriſt the King of Kings, the principal ſubject matter, Author of, and firſt K. under the Goſpel: which as it begins with the Genealogy and Nativity of Jeſus Chriſt, who was born King of the Jews, and inquired after, worſhipped, preſented with Gold, Mirrhe, and Frankincenſe by the Wiſemen, under the notion of a King, Mat. c. 1, & 2. 1, 2, &c. So it informs us, that at his birth an Angel of the Lord appeared to the Shepheards, ſaying, Behold I bring unto you tidings of great joy which ſhall be to all people; for unto you is born this day in the City of David, a Saviour, which is Chriſt the Lord. And ſuddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly hoſt, prayſing God and ſaying, Glory to God in the highest, in earth peace, good will towards men, Lu. 2. 9, to 15. Of this King Ieſus, (to whom the Angel appearing to his Mother Mary before his conception, ſaid, That the Lord God ſhall give unto him the Throne of his Father David, and be ſhall reign over the Houſe of Jacob for ever, and of his Kingdom there ſhall be no end, Lu. 1. 32, 33.) his Father King David many hundred years before his Nativity, thus prophecyed, Pſ. 72. 15, 17. To him ſhall be given of the gold of Sheba, Prayer alſo ſhall be made for him continually, and daily ſhall he be prayſed, all Nations ſhall call him Bleſſed. And the Prophet Zechariah thus prophecyed concerning him, c. 9. 9. Rejoyce greatly O Jeruſalem, Behold thy King cometh unto thee: he is juſt, and bringing Salvation, riding upon an Aſs, and upon a Colt, the foal of an Aſs: which Prophecies were fulfilled, both by the earneſt Prayers and Deſires of many Prophets, Kings and righteous men, to ſee and hear King Jeſus, before his incarnation; by the Songs of rejoycing and thankſgiving at and for his very conception and birth, recorded Mat. 13. 16, 17. Lu. 10. 23, 24. c. 1. 42, 45, 68, 69, 70, &c. c. 2. 20, to 39. 37, 38. Mat. 2. 1, to 12. And at his triumphant riding like a King unto Jeruſalem on an Aſſe and its foal, Matth. 21. 5, to 17. Mar. 11. 1, to 18. Lu. 19. 29, &c. At which time a very great multitude ſpread their Garments in the way, others cut down branches from the Trees, and ſtrawed them in the way; and when he was come nigh to the deſcent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude that went before and followed after, * Chryſoſtom, Theophylact, and Marolat. on the place.began to rejoyce and praiſe God with a loud voyce, and cryed ſaying, Hoſanna to the Son of David, bleſſed be he that commeth in the name of the Lord, Hoſanna in the higheſt: Bleſſed be the Kingdom of our Father David, Hoſanna in the higheſt: Bleſſed be the King that commeth in the name of the Lord, peace in Heaven and glory in the higheſt. And when ſome of the Phariſees from among the multitude ſaid unto him, Maſter rebuke thy Diſciples; He anſwered and ſaid unto them, If theſe men ſhould hold their peace, the ſtones would immemediatly cry out. After which the Chief Prieſts and Scribes ſeeing the wonderfull things he did; and the Children crying in the Temple, ſaying, Hoſanna to the Son of David; they were ſore diſpleaſed and ſaid unto him, Heareſt thou what they ſay? Jeſus ſaith unto them, Yea, have ye not read, aPſ. 8. 2.Out of the mouths of Babes and Sucklings thou haſt perfected prayſe. This is likewiſe evident by theſe very clauſes in the form of prayer, which Chriſt himſelf recommended to his Diſciples, to be daily uſed by them, Mat. 6. 10. 13. thy Kingdom come, (oft ſtiled bMat. 19. 28. c. 20. 21. Lu. 1. 33. c 22, 30. c. 23 42. John 18. 36. Col. 1. 13. 2 Tim. 4 1. Heb. 1. 8. 2 Pet. 1. 11. Rom. 1. 9▪Chriſts Kingdom in the Goſpel, as well as the Fathers) for thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever, Amen; By that Prayer of all Gods Saints, Rev. 22. 20. Amen, Even ſo Lord Jeſus come quickly. And by that Song of the Lamb, which they who had gotten victory over the Beaſt, having the harps of God, do ſing, Rev. 15. 2, 3, 4. Great and marvellous are thy works Lord God Almighty, juſt and true are thy wayes thou King of Saints; who ſhall not fear thee O Lord, and glorifie thy name? for thou only art holy, for all Nations ſhall come and worſhip before thee. All which ſacred Texts, Prayers, Prayſes, Songs and Thankſgivings for the Nativity, Kingſhip, Kingdom, and inauguration of Jeſus Chriſt as a King into his Kingly Office, and for the ſecond comming of his Perſon and Kingdom of Glory; are ſufficient Preſidents, grounds, warrants, for all Chriſtian Subjects under the Goſpel, to rejoyce, triumph, with Songs and Pſalmes of Thankſgiving, and exceeding joy, both at the Births and Coronations of their Kings, Princes, yea to pray for their Perſons, Kingdoms, Poſterities Felicity, Stability, Tranquillity, Perpetuity, and for their ſpeedy comming, reſtitution, when forcibly driven from their Kingdoms by Enemies or Rebels. And if any malicious Phariſees, Prieſts, Scribes, or trayterous Antimonarchiſts ſhall be ſore diſpleaſed with them for theſe their Prayers, Prayſes, Rejoycings, Thankſgivings, and rebuke them for the ſame; King Jeſus his own Anſwers to the Phariſees, Prieſts and Scribes forecited, may for ever ſtop their mouths, and reclaim them from ſuch diſloyal, treaſonable rebukes.
And ſo much the rather, becauſe theſe premiſed Preſidents both before and under the Law and Goſpel, approved, preſcribed by God, and practiſed by his Servants, were the ground of this Goſpel exhortation and injunction, which not only approves, and preſcribes, but commends the ſame to all Chriſtians under the Goſpel, in theſe obſervable words, 1 Tim. 2. 1, 2, 3. I exhort therefore that firſt of all Supplications, Prayers, Interceſſions, and giving of thanks be made for all men; for Kings, (in the firſt place as Supreme, 1 Pet. 2. 13, 14.) and for all that are in Authority, (under and after them) that we may live a quiet and peaceable life in all godlineſs and honeſty, for this is good and acceptable in the ſight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be ſaved, and come to the knowledge of the truth. I ſhall a little inſiſt on this Goſpel Text, as moſt punctual, full, pertinent to my purpoſe, the rather, becauſe in*See Mr. Smith his Gagg for the Quakers, p. 8, 9. August 1659. in the Univerſity of Cambridge it ſelf, a Miniſter of the Goſpel, the Son of a Parliament man, was by the Maior of the town (whoſe wife is a Quaker) apprehended by a company of Souldiers, and kept Priſoner for a time, only for praying in general for all Chriſtian Kings, Princes, and Governors, according to this Text: when George Whitehead and George Fox, two Quakers, blaſphemouſly railed, and diſputed againſt Jeſus Chriſt, the two other Perſons, the bleſſed Trinity, and the word of God, an whole hour together in the Maiors preſence, and ſundry others, without check or puniſhment; ſuch are the atheiſtical, antimonarchical times wherein we live. In this text conſider, 1. The Pen-man of it by divine inſpiration, S. Paul the Apoſtle of Jeſus Christ ſpecially delegated by him to the Gentiles & uncircumciſion, to open their cies, to turn them from darkneſs to light, and from the power of Satan unto God; And to bear Chriſts name before the Gentiles and Kings, Acts 9. 15. c. 26. 16, 17, 18. Gal. 2. 2, 7, 8, 9. Eph. 3. 1, to 12. Acts 13. 46, 47. c. 15. 7. c. 18. 6. c. 21. 19, 20. c. 22 21. c. 28. 28. Rom. 11. 13. c. 15. 15, to 25. Col. 1. 27, 28. 2 Tim. 1. 11. c. 4. 17. Therefore theſe Duties are ſpecially recommended and preſcribed to them. 2ly. The perſon to whom this Epiſtle and exhortation was principally, & particularly directed, even Timothy his dearly beloved Son, and Fellow Miniſter in preaching the Goſpel to the Gentiles, then reſiding at Epheſus, 1 Tim. 1, 3. a City and Church of the Gentiles, where he exerciſed his Miniſtry, and was to perform theſe Duties publickly in his own perſon as a Miniſter, to excite all others thereunto. Therefore theſe Duties of making publick Supplications, Prayers, Interceſſions and Thankſgivings for Kings both in publick and private, do principally belong, and are carefully to be performed by all Miniſters and Preachers of the Goſpel to and amongſt the Gentiles. 3ly. The manner of preſſing theſe Duties; the Apoſtle doth moſt earneſtly and zealouſly urge their performance; as the words I exhort, or earneſtly deſire, import, Exhortings, being the moſt paſſionate, pathetical, fervent preſſing of men to duties, Lu. 3. 18. Act. 11. 23. c. 13. 15. c. 2. 40. c. 15. 32. c. 20. 2. Rom. 12. 8. 1 Theſ. 2. 11, 12. c. 4. 1. c. 5. 14. 2 Theſ. 3. 12. 1 Tim. 4. 13. c. 6. 2. 2 Tim. 4. 2. Tit. 1. 9. c. 2. 6, 15. Heb. 3. 13. c. 12. 5. c. 13. 22. 1 Pet. 5. 1. Jude 3. 4ly. The grounds of his enforcing theſe Duties ſo earneſtly, implyed in the word therefore, relating to the cloſe of the precedent Chapter, v. 18, 19, 20. This charge I commit unto thee Son Timothy, according to the Prophecies that went before on thee; that thou by them mighteſt war a good warfare, holding Faith and a good Conſcience: which he could not do or perform, unleſs he diſcharged theſe Duties he thus exhorted him to, being a part of his ſpiritual good warfare, and both a means and evidence of his holding Faith and a good Conſcience; and his neglect or contempt of them, a ready way to make ſhipwrack of them, as Hymeneus and Alexander had done, whom he had dilivered to Satan. Antimonarchical and Antimagiſtratical Miniſters or Chriſtians will ſoon turn Apoſtates, and Blaſphemers, yea put away and make ſhipwrack of their Faith and good Conſcience towards God, when they became diſloyal and rebellious to their Kings, and give over Supplications, Prayers, Interceſſions and Thankſgivings for them, as we have found by late ſad experiments. 5ly. The primacy and excellency of theſe Duties before all others, expreſſed in the clauſe, I exhort therefore that firſt of all, that is, in the firſt place, before and above all other Duties, parts of Miniſtry or Chriſtianity, they are carefully, conſcienciouſly, cordially to be performed, without the leaſt omiſſion or neglect. 6ly. The variety of the Duties, ſet forth by theſe various expreſſions, That Supplications, Prayers, Interceſſions and Thanksgivings, (all in the plural number) be made for Kings: Which pluralities imply, 1. A univerſality of their ſeveral kinds, to wit,rEpheſ. 6. 16. 1 Kings 8. 38. That all ſorts of Supplications, Prayers, Interceſſions and Thanksgivings whatſoever ought to be made for them. 2ly.ſPſ. 72. 20. I. ſay 1. 15 Lu. 2. 37. Acts 2. 42. Rom. 15. 30. A multiplicity of each of them, not a ſingle Supplication, Prayer, Interceſſion, Thankſgiving, and no more; but many and manifold Supplications, Prayers and Thankſgivings. 3ly. A frequency, fervency, conſtancy, perpetuity in the performance of them both in publick and private, all our lives long, without ceaſing, or flagging, as thet1 Sam. 12 23. Pſ. 72. 15. Pſ. 55. 17. Mat. 26. 41. Lu. 18. 1, &c. 1 Theſ. 5. 17. 2 Theſ. 1. 11. Epheſ. 6. 18. 1 Theſ. 3… 10. 2 Tim. 1. 3. Jam. 5. 16. 1 Pet 4. 7. Col. 1. 3, 9. c. 4. 2, 12. Acts 6. 4. c. 12 5. marginal Scriptures evidence. 4ly. An univerſality in reſpect of perſons and places, thus expreſſed in the verſe following, I will therefore that men pray every where lifting up holy hands. 5ly. An univerſality of things, Mercies, Bleſſings, &c. for which Supplications, Prayers, Interceſſions and Thankſgivings ought at any time ordinarily or extraordinarily, publickly or privately to be made to God in behalf of Kings. 6ly. Supplications for the pardon and remiſſion of all their ſins, errors, miſcariages, frailties, iniquities whatſoever; for converting, diverting, or keeping them from all evil and deſtructive waies,u See Chryſoſtom, Hierom, Remigius, Beda, The Divi…es and Dr. Hamonds Notes on the 1 Tim. 2. 1, 2. 3. Auguſtin. Epiſt. 59. errors, counſels, deſigns, undertakings whatſoever, diſhonourable to God, ſcandalous to Religion, hurtfull to the Church, fatal to their Kingdoms, People, Royal perſons, families and poſteritie; and for removing all inflicted, threatned or feared judgements, evils from their Perſons, Families, Kingdoms, Relations. Prayers for all ſorts of corporal, temporal, ſpiritual, eternal Bleſſings, Mercies, which they at any time ſtand in need of, and the continuance, increaſe, and ſanctified uſe of all they doe enjoy for themſelves, their Families, Kingdoms, Counſellors, Officers, People, Allies. Interceſſions againſt all machinations, dangers, conſpiracies of ſpiritual or temporal Enemies, Traytors, Conſpirators, againſt their precious ſouls, bodies, lives, Crowns, Kingdoms, Poſterities, Forces, publike undertakings, Councils; to divert Gods wrath and judgements from, and impetrate his gracious love and favour to them upon all occaſions. Thanksgivings, for their births, coronations, health, lives, wiſdom, power, juſtice, graces, preſervations, iſſues, poſterity; all ſorts of mercies, bleſſings, favors, victories, ſucceſſes, deliverances from evils, ſickneſſes, dangers, enemies, conſpiracies of all kinde, conferred on them, their Kingdoms, Families, Poſterities, Relations; for all bleſſings received from, or enjoyed under them and their Government; as the free uſe, exerciſe, enjoyment of the Word, Sacraments, with all other parts of Gods Worſhip, Peace, Health, Wealth, Safety, Liberty, Proſperity, Laws, Privileges, Parliaments; exemptions from Oppreſſions, Rapines, Murders, Rapes, extortions, Illegal Taxes, Exciſes, Executions, Impriſonments, baniſhments, wars; for all particular benefits and royal favors conferred by them on their own perſons, or relations. All theſe and what ever elſe are or may be included in Supplications, prayers, interceſſions, thanksgivings, are here preſcribed to all Miniſters and Chriſtians under the Goſpel in behalf of their Kings.
7ly. The*See the Aſſemblies Notes thereon, and on 1 Pet. 2. 13, 14. primacy and precedence of Kings above all other Governors and perſons in authority, both in all our ſupplications, prayers, interceſſions, thanksgivings, and likewiſe in their Civil dignity and Authority: For although the Apoſtle to avoid all ſuſpition of flatterie (as the*Chryſoſtom, Theodoret, Oecumenius, Theophilact, Ambroſe. Fathers obſerve) exhorts in the firſt place, that Prayers, &c. ſhould be made for all men in general; yet when he comes to the particular enumeration of them, he placeth Kings in the front before all others, being ranked before them all by the Apoſtle, in theſe words, For Kings, and all that are in Authority; and more particularly by the Apoſtle Peter 1 Pet. 13, 14. Submit your ſelves to every Ordinance of man for the Lords ſake: whether to the King, as ſupreme, or unto Governors, as to thoſe who are ſent by him, &c. 8ly. The plurality and univerſallity of the word*The Divines Notes on 1 Tim. 2. 1, 2. KINGS: in the plural, not ſingular number; and that without any reſtriction of their perſonal qualifications, extending univerſally to all Kings, and excluding none, though*Hierom, Chryſoſtom, Sedulius, Primaſius, Ambroſe, Theodoret, Rhemigius, Oecumenius, Beda, Theophylact. Pagans, Idolaters, Hereticks, Schiſmaticks, Tyrants, Oppreſſors, Perſecutors, Murderers, Wicked, Prophane, Vitious, Flagitious in any kinde; for which many might doubt whether they ought to pray, which the Apoſtle fully clears by this general expreſſion: as well as for the moſt Chriſtian, Pious, Juſt, Righteous, Virtuous Kings, for which all will grant Chriſtians ought to make ſupplications, prayers, interceſſions, thankſgivings, without diſpute. This I ſhall clear by 5. undeniable Arguments: 1. Becauſe all Kings, Emperors, Princes throughout the world when this Epiſtle was written, and for above 500 years after, (but Lucius) were Pagans, Idolaters, and for the moſt part*see Euſebius, Socrates Scholaſticus, Nicephorus, Dorotheus, Baronius, Spond…nus, The Centuries, Mr▪ Fox, and others. bitter perſecutors of the Saints, Church of Chriſt; and ſome tranſcendently impious, flagitious, eſpecially Caligula, Claudius, and Nero, under whom Paul lived, and ſuffered Martyrdom, with others of the Apostles, and many hundreds of Chriſtians; yet even St. Paul himſelf exhorts firſt of all, that ſupplications, interceſſions, prayers and thankſgivings ſhould be made for them by Timothy, & all other Chriſtians then living under them. 2ly. Becauſe the Apoſtles precedent and ſubſequent exhortation, is univerſal, for all Men, for Kings, and All that are in Authority: If then we muſt make ſupplications, prayers, interceſſions, thanksgivings for all men, good or bad, then certainly for all Kings, though the Apoſtle had not named Kings, becauſe all Kings are men, and included in the general all men: and if for all that are in Authority or Eminent place, then certainly for all Kings; being in ſupremeſt Authority and Eminency; and included by name between thoſe two univerſals, All men, All in Authority. 3ly. Becauſe the ſubſequent words, that under them we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, in all godlineſs and honeſty: And, who will have all men to be ſaved, and to come to the know…edge of the truth, implies, that the Kings, and all in Authority, at that time, for whom they are exhorted to make ſupplications, &c. were perſecutors, under whom they had no preſent reſt nor quietneſſe, and unconverted to the knowledge of the truth and means of ſalvation. 4ly. Becauſe St. Pauls precept, Rom. 12. 14. Bleſſe them which perſecute you, bleſs and curſe not; compared with v. 20, 21. Rom. 13. 1, to 10. Titus 3. 1, 2, 3. paralleld with our Saviours own reiterated precept, Mat. 5. 44, 45. Luke 6. 27, 28, 29. But I ſay unto you, love your Enemies; Bleſs them that curſe you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that deſpitefully uſe you, and perſecute you; And unto him that ſmiteth thee on the one cheek, offer him alſo the other: and him that taketh away thy cloak, forbid not to take thy coat alſo; that you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven; for he maketh his Sun to riſe to the evil, and to the good, and ſendeth rain on the juſt and on the unjuſt. Which precept relates principally to Kings and Rulers, before whom they ſhould be brought, perſecuted, and put to death, Mat. 10. 18, to 38. Lu. 21. 12, &c. 5ly. Becauſe he never exhorted, commanded, encouraged in the leaſt degree, any Chriſtians to curſe or pray against their Kings, though Pagans, Tyrants, Perſecuters: much leſſe to rebell againſt, depoſe, or dethrone, behead, execute them. If Chriſtians then be thus exhorted, obliged by the Apoſtle to make prayers, ſupplications, interceſsions, and thanksgivings even for their Perſecuting, Tyrannical, Pagan, wicked Kings, not to depoſe, murder, execute them in High Courts of Juſtice, or to extirpate their royal poſterity, Kingſhip, and alter their form of Government which they are profeſſedly prohibited to do for conſcience ſak, under pain of damnation, in direct terms, Rom. 13. 1, to 7. Tit. 3. 1. and 1 Pet. 2. 13, 14. Then certainly they are much more obliged to make ſupplications, prayers, interceſſions, thankſgivings for their hereditary Chriſtian, Proteſtant, Orthodox, rightfull Kings, and not to dethrone, murder, execute them in any ſtrange High Courts of Juſtice, nor to extirpate their royal iſſue, Kingſhip, and change their whole frame of Government, from which they are expreſly prohibited by theſe Goſpel Texts, and reſtrained by their Solemn Oathes of Allegeance, Fealty, Supremacy, Proteſtation, Vow, League, Covenant, under pain of eternal damnation, and the guilt of higheſt Perjury, Treachery, Rebellion.
It was*In Hymno Acroſtr de…vita Chriſti. Sedulius his Apoſtrophe to Herod, who feared our Saviour Chriſt would have deprived him of his earthly Crown,
Herodes hoſtis impie
Chriſtum venire quid times?
Non abripit mortalia
Qui Regna dat coelestia.
Why wicked Herod do'ſt thou fear, and at Chriſts coming frown?
The mortal he takes not away, who gives the heavenly Crown.
Which Claudius thus ſeconds,*Rex iſte qui natus eſt non venit Reges pugnando ſuperate, ſed moriendo mirabiliter, veni… enim non ut regnet vivus ſed ut triumphat occiſus. Claudius l. 1. in Matth. Biſhop uſher of the Religion profeſſed by the Antient Iriſh, p. 97, 98 Mat. 10. 24, 25. John 13. c 15. 20. That King which is born cometh not to overcome Kings by fighting, but to ſubdue them after a wonderful manner by dying, &c. for he is come not that he may deſtroy alive, but that he may triumph being ſlain. How then any Servants can be greater, wiſer, powerfuller than their Lord, King Jeſus, who came not to dethrone, uncrown any earthly Kings, and reign alive in their ſteads, but to conquer and triumph over them only by his death, though King of Kings and Lord of Lords: in daring to raviſh not only the Crowns, but Lives, Kingdoms, hereditary Lands, Revenues, Powers, Kingſhips of their Chriſtian Soveraigns, inſtead of making Supplications, Prayers, Interceſſions, Thankſgivings for them, and their Royal poſterity, let their own Conſciences reſolve them, and all others who preach the Goſpel, wherein there is neither Precept nor Preſident for ſuch Antichriſtian, Jeſuitical practices.
9ly. The end, reaſon why Miniſters, Chriſtians and other Subjects ſhould make Supplications, Prayers, Interceſſions, Thankſgivings for their very perſecuting, tyrannizing, oppreſſing Pagan KINGS, Governours, and yielding patient loyal Subjection under them is, becauſe it is the moſt effectual means preſcribed by God, whereby to reclaim, convert, ſave them, by overcomming their evil with goodneſs, Rom. 12. 20, 21. the moſt probable, ready, prevalent courſe by which they themſelves may lead a quiet and peaceable life under them in all godlineſs and honeſty; and recover, enjoy both their invaded civil and Chriſtian Liberties; not their mutinous Rebellions or taking up Arms againſt them, forcibly to reform or dethrone them, which would but increaſe their troubles, preſſures, perſecutions, interrupt their peace, quietneſs, yea make ſhipwrack of their godlineſs, honeſty, loyalty, faith, and good Conſciences, which we have found true, by late ſad experiments. Upon which ground the Apoſtle Paul thus deſcribes the deportment of himſelf, and the other Apoſtles and Chriſtians under their Perſecutors, 1 Cor. 12, 13. being reviled, we bleſs, being perſecuted, we ſuffer, being defamed, we intreat, according to our Saviours forecited Precept, Mat. 5. 44, 45. ſeconded with his own example, and Stephens, who prayed for their murdering Perſecutors at their very deaths, Luke 23. 34. Acts 7. 60. leaving us an example that we ſhould follow their ſteps herein, 1 Pet. 2. 20, 21, 22, 23. Jam. 5. 6, to 12.
10ly. The motive God here uſed to excite Timothy and all other Chriſtians to make Supplications, Prayers, Interceſſions, and Thanksgivings for Kings and all in Authority under them, whether good or bad, Pagans or Chriſtians, Perſecutors or Protectors of Religion, for this is good and acceptable in the fight of God our Saviour, as well as beneficial to themſelves, their Kings and Governours in the laſt recited reſpects. And if ſo, then the neglecting, rejecting, inhibiting of theſe Duties in publick or private, muſt queſtionleſs be very evil, ſinfull, diſpleaſing in the fight of God our Saviour, who will ſeverely puniſh it; yea a means to hinder us from enjoying and leading a quiet and peaceable life in all godlineſs and honesty; or any Settlement or Tranquillity, in Church and State, which we have long expected, endeavoured, deſired, and prayed for, but never enjoyed ſince we neglected, and rejected this duty of making Supplications, Prayers, Interceſſions, Thanksgivings for our Kings; and caſting off their Perſons and Kingly Government, and are never likely to enjoy, till we Loyally and Conſcientiouſly reſtore both them and theſe duties for them, preſcribed in and by this Goſpel Text, which I have opened and preſſed to the full, upon this conſideration, and the Apoſtles Reſolutions, Acts 4. 19. c. 5. 29. We ought to obey God, rather than Men.
11ly. This exhortation of Paul, was practiced by himſelf, when he was brought as a Priſoner, and pleaded his cauſe before King Agrippa, Acts 26. 28, 29. Who ſaying to Paul, almoſt thou perſwadest me to be a Chriſtian. Thereupon Paul ſaid, I would to God not only thou, but alſo all that hear me this day, were both almoſt, and altogether ſuch as I am, except theſe bonds. A direct prayer to God, for this Kings, and his other Auditors Converſion to Chriſtianity.
Thus much for scripture Preſidents and Precepts, warranting and commanding this duty, both before, and under the Law and Goſpel. I now proceed to other Teſtimonies in the Primitive Church, as well for Pagan, Arrian and heretical perſecuting Emperors, Kings, Princes, as for Chriſtian, Orthodox, and ſuch who were Protectors of Chriſtianity and Chriſtians.