Thirty-One Select Sermons 2, Sermon collection · Sermon 7
State Proſperitie, IN Keeping cloſe to the Word.
At a Faſt in the Parliament houſe, Iune 31. 1653.
JOSHUA 1.8.
Then ſhalt thou make thy way proſperous, and then thou ſhalt have good ſucceſs.
HEre Ioſhua a holy man, and a godly Magiſtrate, is to undertake a great ſervice; he was to divide unto Iſrael the Land of Canaan for an inheritance, which God had promiſed unto their Fathers to give them. But great duties are commonly beſet with great difficulties; therefore the heart of a man muſt have ſomething to bear it up that is ſtronger then it ſelf: ſuffultum eſt cor meum, &c. my heart is under-propped, Pſal. 112.8. there is a double courage: both which we find in Ioſhua.
Firſt, more particular in reference unto a ſervice injoyned, and that is a courage in ventering upon dangers: for the ſons of Anak be there, and their Cities walled up to heaven: they are a mighty warlike people, and in poſſeſſion, and fortified: Yet be ſtrong, for I have commanded thee; there is a particular faith or conſidence that the Spirit puts into the hearts of the Saints: and this particular faith works from a particular courage, that though weak, yet by faith are made ſtrong and become valiant in fight, Heb. 11. and with this God gives to his people two things, as Plut. ſaith were in Hannibal, Plurimum andaciae ad capienda pericula; & plurimum Conſilii inter pericula ipſa: he was bold in attempting, and yet wiſe in managing of the moſt difficult ſervices; his courage wrought not raſhneſs in him, nor his counſel wrought not ſlothfulneſs.
Secondly, there is a more particular courage in reference to duty: be very couragious, and obſerve to do according unto all that the Lord commanded thee: difficulties and dangers are properly the objects of courage; and many a man may be as couragious as a Lyon in a particular ſervice, and yet when he comes, to obſerve all that is commanded, in point of duty, his heart may fail him: men daring in dangers, are many times men fainting in duty; many a man in a particular ſervice may have his heart with Iehu as an Adamant, to deſtroy all the houſe of Ahab, &c. but yet when he comes to a general obedience, he is as weak as water; for Iehu took no heed to walk in the Law of the Lord God of Iſrael with all his heart: there are duties that are diſcountenanced, and a man muſt go alone; at my firſt anſwer no man ſtood with me, all men forſook me, ſaith the Apoſtle, &c. but yet then a man muſt not forſake the ſervice he is doing, either for God or his people; and there are ſome duties which lie upon a man, and which he undertakes, that enemies may oppoſe and obſerve him in, as they did Daniel; yet he would venter his life to gain an hour at prayer; and there are ſome duties that a man may with courage reſiſt enemies in, and conquer all their oppoſition, yet he may be betrayed by his friends: as we ſee in Rehoboam, 2 Chron. 3.7. there were gathered to him vain men, children of Belial, and they ſtrengthened themſelves againſt him, but it was when he was young, (and yet he was fourtie years old) but he was young and tender-hearted, and could not withſtand them: ſo alſo it is ſaid of Zedekiah, that the men of his peace ſet him on and prevailed againſt him, &c. they that no enemies could conquer, have been overcome by their friends; wild counſellors they will prove ill friends: and thy feet will ſink in the mire, and they will turn away back: they will leave thee to ſhift for thy ſelf in the greateſt of thy ſtreights, nay they will be the worſt enemies againſt thee; as an Ivy twiſts about an Oak, and lives by the ſap of it, but he hath a root of his own, and yet by his embraces he eats out the heart of it, and he doth flouriſh and grow green, but the Oak doth wither, who is thus imbraced and loſeth its verdure from day to day, &c.
And the rule of this courage muſt be the Law: Reſolution without a rule, is like a horſe without a bridle, which hath no reſtraint; its running well but out of the way: and it muſt be according to the Law known, and rightly underſtood, for he muſt meditate therein day and night; it muſt dwell richly in him that is in authority: it muſt not be the Law unlorded, Mat. 15.6. the word is in the Greek, foreign not by the traditions of men, nor by the frenzies and inſpirations of men: for there is a kind of myſtical Divinity that is brought forth by men, that cannot be contented to be wiſe according unto what is written; that turn all the Scripture into fancies, and Allegories, and far fetched imaginations: there is wiſdom from beneath, and there is inſpirations from Hell, when Satan will transform himſelf like an Angel of light, as well as there is inſpirations from heaven: but let me tell you, we muſt know no Law within us, but that which is derived from the Law without, and anſwers to it as the Counterpain to the Copy; and we muſt know no other Chriſt, but he that was born at Bethlem; and was crucified at Ieruſalem: and no other Antichriſt but myſtical Babylon the mother of Harlots, which is the City that rules over the Kings of the earth; and to ſpeak of another ſpiritual Chriſt and Antichriſt, apart from theſe, and ſo to turn all into fancies, this is not the Law as delivered by God, but as framed by men whoſe fancies go beyond their faith, and their pride exceeds them both.
And this Law he ſhould not only have in his heart and in his eye, but he ſhould have it alwaies in his mouth; he is not to depart from thence; non tantum ſibi privatim, ſed toti populo.
The knowledge that he hath of the Law of God, he ſhould hold forth to the people in his government, and let him profeſs the truth which he doth believe; the ſame duty lies upon him, both as a Magiſtrate and as a man: or elſe, the ten Kings could never as Kings, deſtroy the whore; elſe as a Magiſtrate let him never be called Chriſtian, if he bear not the teſtimony of Chriſt; let him be Chriſtian as a man, if he do profeſs Chriſt; but let him not be ſo as a Magiſtrate, that thinks he is born to do no more for Chriſt under whom he acts, then a Pagan is: All Magiſtracy came in by ſin: nomen iſtud culpa meruit, & non natura: Auſtin.eſt Remedium corruptae naturae: Luther.A natural ſubjection there ſhould have been, but no civil ſubjection of one man to another; and it is by Jeſus Chriſt after the fall, the government being put into his hands, Prov. 18.15,16. by me Kings raign; it is not ſpoken of Chriſt barely as God, but as Mediator in a Covenant, and Decree: ſo that the Government of all Nations belongs to him, he is King of Kings; and they that will ſerve him muſt not only do his work, but ſerve his end: now his end is that the Providential Kingdom be ſubordinate to the Spiritual, Eph. 1. ult. and that muſt be their aim alſo, or elſe they will never be accepted of Chriſt: as we ſee it in Iehu: notwithſtanding the great ſervices he did, yet becauſe his end was not Gods, therefore they were not accepted.
We come not to Magiſtrates for a Confeſſion of faith in this, as if the Goſpel had not ſtrength enough of it ſelf to defend it: there was a time when Magiſtrates were not Chriſtian and yet the Goſpel wanted not its defence: and when the Magiſtrate is Chriſtian, we know Diabolus nondum factus eſt Chriſtianus, Auſtin.Auſt. We have the ſame Law-giver, who is the Judge: and we know, the Churches ſupport tarries not for man, it waits not for the ſons of men, Mich. 5.7. it hath in a readineſs to revenge all diſobedience. I do profeſs, that were it not that we deſire to be ſenſible of Gods diſhonour, and dare not but be faithful unto your ſouls, and the Nations good, becauſe we know that the ſoul of the Lord will be diſ-joynted by theſe means, we ſhould never ſo much as move you in this kind: for we know, that the … and ſtubble the fire will conſume them: and we know, that the day of the Lord will come, when he will deſtroy Antichriſt with the breath of his mouth, and the brightneſs of his coming: and all theſe which are but appendixes will vaniſh with them; only we would not have you neglect your duty, and thereby bring a guilt upon your ſelves and upon your government; and we would not have you loſe your ſhare in the honour of it before God and the Nations: and after ſuch ſolemn profeſsions and publick expectations to the contrary, and now to be put off from them by fancies, ſuſpitions of impoſitions, and that from men that never deſired any thing from you but a publick owning of thoſe things, which we know you dare not deny to be truths: and a not-countenancing (if we may not attain a diſcountenancing) of the contrary.
Neither is profeſſion enough, but there muſt be an anſwerable practice: the Magiſtrate muſt obſerve to do all that is commanded therein: it is obedience that is the life of the Law: he muſt be ready to do every good work: without practice the Law is but a dead letter to a man: and it is the fruit of grace, Eph. 2.10. created in Chriſt unto good works: dead works flow from a dead man; a man that is living will act lively; and its the glory of our profeſſion, let your light ſo ſhine before men, that they may ſee your good works, &c. If we ſpeak never ſo high and Angelical, yet if our converſation be not in heaven, we do nothing our waies are in hell, when our words ſeem to be in heaven: the Angels and thoſe that ſtand by, they receive that they may do: they go and come as lightning: they are ready and ſpeedy in it, and they that do ſo ſhall have a place amongſt them, Zach. 3.7. and there is the ſame diſtance between God and great men, that is between him and mean men: for he regards the rich no more then the poor, they are all the work of his hands; they ſhall be all judged alike, and ſhall all ſtand up alike before the Judgement Seat of Chriſt; diſtances amongſt men may perſwade the vain mind of man that there is ſomething that makes them differ: but with the Lord it is not ſo: and it is a ſmall thing, as well as a vain, to profeſs we know God, when in works we deny him.
And the fruit of all this is, that thou maiſt make thy way proſperous, and then thou ſhalt have good ſucceſs: the words have many efficacies; proſperous, that is, to have all things go well with him: and his undertaking to anſwer his deſign: whereas many times it doth not, but the contrary: and the counſels of wiſe men are turned backwards: and though they conceive one thing, yet another is brought forth: it is as the Greek foreign; a man that goes well on in his way: and it is the ſame word uſed, Pſal. 1. Whatſoever he does ſhall proſper: and the other word for good ſucceſs, it doth ſignifie to do wiſely: the Septuagint foreign; viam tuam diriges, & intelliges eam, Jerom.Jerom. Res tanta eſt ex qua omnis ratio Magiſtratus bene gerendi pendebat, inculcanda eſt. Maſsius.Maſsius in loc.
Doctrine.
The only way for a godly Magiſtrate to rule wiſely and proſperouſly, is, in all his government to have reſpect unto the word, and to keep cloſe thereunto.
Firſt, this is the way to walk by an un-erring rule: let me tell you, the policies of men will deceive you, for they do many times deceive themſelves: the wiſe are taken in their own craft, and burnt as Bees in their own hives; and the Devil doth commonly make uſe of the wiſdom of the wiſe; alſo cupit & diabolus, &c. Satan hath his foreign, and his foreign: any man can act the Devils luſts, but all men cannot underſtand and reach his depths; therefore the Devil will make uſe of wiſe men in the world this way: but this is a rule in which a man ſhall never err, never miſcarry, Prov. 19.16. he that keeps the Commandments, keeps his ſoul: and, as many as walk according to this rule, peace be upon them: it is the way to peace only.
Secondly, this is the only vvay to rule with God, Hoſ. 11.12. they rule for God; ye Iudge not for men, but for the Lord: and it is a great happineſs to have God rule with them: there are tvvo great Judgements that in a ſpecial manner vve ſhould fear: the one is to have God to depart from our Magiſtrates, and the other from our Ordinances, 2 King. 18.6,7. Hezekiah clave to the Lord, and departed not from him, but kept his Commandments; ſo the Lord was with him, and he proſpered in all things he took in hand: every Government doth ſtand upon a double Covenant.
Firſt, between God and the Magiſtrate.
Secondly, between the Magiſtrate and the people: 2 King. 11.17. between the Lord and the King and the people, that they ſhould be the Lords people: likewiſe between the King and the people: So that a people coming under the authority of men, and obeying them for conſcience ſake, it is ſtill with reſpect unto the authority of God, that they will ſo be under government, as they wil be the Lords people ſtill; & therefore the care of Magiſtrates ſhould be, not only that they rule in a way of providence, Dan. 4.17. but in a way of grace, Magnus Caeſar, ſed Deo minor; and whileſt the Magiſtrate rules according to the word of God, and hath reſpect to it in his Government, ſo long God rules in and with the Magiſtrate, and therefore all that he doth undertake ſhall proſper.
Thirdly, this is the only way to have the ſpirit to be their guide in Government: he hath undertaken to his people to be foreign, a Leader; not only as Saints, as he is to all the Saints in general, but alſo in their particular places, and callings, and imployments, Ioh. 16.13. he ſhall lead you into all truth: it is not to be underſtood in omnem veritatem abſolute, but neceſſariam: all that is neceſſary to your calling, imployments and condition in which he hath ſet you; and where ſhall a man hear the voice of the ſpirit ſpeaking, but in the word? it is in the Sanctuary of the Lord: there David found the rule: he was ſhewed the way; the way of the ſpirit is in the word: it is the light that ſhines in a dark place, unto which you do well to give heed.
Fourthly, this is the way to come under the favourable aſpect of many gracious promiſes of ſucceſs and proſperitie in your undertakings and adminiſtrations, 1 King. 2.3. Keep the charge of the Lord thy God, his Statutes, his Commandments, his Judgements, his Teſtimonies that thou mayſt proſper in all that thou doeſt, and whitherſoever thou turneſt thy ſelf, 2 Chron. 22.13. Only the Lord give thee wiſdom, that thou mayſt keep the Law of the Lord thy God: then ſhalt thou proſper, &c. 2 Chron. 24.20. Zachary was cloathed with the ſpirit: and he had need be ſo, that ſpeaks to an apoſtatizing Magiſtracie, and to a revolted and backſliding people: and, he ſaid that they did tranſgreſs the Commandment of the Lord, and therefore they could not proſper: and Zach. 11.16. there is an Idol Shepherd, (or a fooliſh Shepherd) it points unto the folly of the Government that was afterward to ariſe: that is, when they did forſake the Law of the Lord, and what wiſdom was there in them then? Their Arm, their power and authority with the people; and their Eye, their counſel ſhall be nothing, but they ſhall err, and cauſe the people to err in every work of their hands, the Lord will mingle a perverſe ſpirit upon them, &c.
Uſe.
Then ſurely this is the way for you to proſper, and this will be your wiſdom in the ſight of the Nations, to keep cloſe to the word: and here I ſhall exhort you to keep cloſe to the word,
Firſt, in the Doctrine of it.
Secondly, in the worſhip it holds forth.
Thirdly, in practice.
Firſt, for Doctrine: Let the word be alwaies before you, that you may receive it, and give a teſtimony to it: there is a form of Doctrine, a pattern of wholſome words: there is a perſonal foundation, and there is a doctrinal foundation, Heb. 6.1. Rev. 21.14. which the Saints ought to build upon; & all the ſuperſtructures, let them be for clearing the truth and eſtabliſhing, not for ſubverting of the faith: Sit profectus fidei, non permutatio; under perſecution Satan acted another part; Cogit homines negare Chriſtum, nunc docet: Auſtin.Auſtin.
Here are three things that I ſhall ſpeak to.
Firſt, that the great intereſt Chriſt hath in the world is Truth. Firſt, it is that by which Chriſt rules and conquers, Pſal. 110.2. Rev. 6.2. Secondly, it is that upon which the Church ſtands, Eph. 2.20. Churches are ſaid to be the great intereſt of Chriſt in the world: and indeed it is true, that for the Saints ſake, and the Churches ſake, the world ſtands; but he now that would deſtroy truth, overthrows the foundation upon which the Church is built: we ſpeak of perſecution, and there is a great cry of perſecution; but the greateſt perſecution that ever was or can be to the Church, was not in deſtroying their perſons, but in over-throwing the truths upon which the Church is built: therefore Hereticks have been the greateſt perſecutors, &c. Thirdly, truth is that by which holineſs is maintained in the world, Ioh. 17.17. ſanctifie them by thy truth, thy word is truth. Now for men to cry up holineſs, and decry truth, it is oppoſitio in adjecto: the Lord loves his people, but he loves his truth above all; and it is dangerous to ſet a mans ſelf againſt that which Chriſt ſpecially will own and advance, he hath exalted his word above all his name.
Secondly, no Nation did ever proſper, that did ever ſet themſelves againſt Truth; and no Magiſtrates did ever proſper in their Government, that did ſet themſelves againſt Truths, and did countenance and favour them that did it: to give you a few inſtances: Firſt, conſider, the Jews Idolatry before their captivity, was their great ſin: but afterward they departed; Non prius facti ſint haeretici quam eſſe Idololatrae deſtiſſent: then here ſies ſprung up; and it will appear that their oppoſing of truth, and ſuffering theſe to get ground, and make merchandize of the people, was the deſtruction of the City, rather then the Army of the Romans that came againſt them, as Joſephus, &c. The Rulers, they favoured thoſe that oppoſed Truth, and did aide themſelves, and took their parts, and contended for them: the Roman Empire it was the flood: the Arrian hereſie their Emperours favoured it, and taking part with them that brought in the Goths and the Barbarous Nations upon them, and extinguiſhed all the glory of their antient Government: the Star wormwood in Auguſtulus falling from heaven: And the Eaſtern part, the ſeven Churches of Aſia, the Doctrine of the Nicolaitans, and the doctrine of the woman Iezebel, brought the Saracens upon them: I might inſtance in many other; but here at home though there was a perſecution before, and it may be in regard of reſtraint, as great well nigh as was afterward, but yet their ſins never came to a ripeneſs till they did begin to make void the Law of God, and labour to bring in the Doctrine of Poperie amongſt us, and Arminianiſm; and the Rulers took part with them, and favoured the Doctrine, and Teachers: and that brought in corrupt worſhip, and this filled their meaſure, and then did God awaken the ſouls of his ſervants to cry to him; and indeed, what can the righteous do when the foundations are deſtroyed? and the Lord was pleaſed to hear and to awake: when men in authority will favour and countenance thoſe that endeavour to overthrow truth, then God will pour contempt upon them, &c. and if there were no more but this, it will clear it, that the Churches are the great intereſt of Nations which have been formerly: and if deſtroying of the truths of God be the greateſt perſecution of Churches that can be, and the greateſt wrong that is done or can be done unto them, and let the Churches be corrupted, let me tell you, the end will be with a flood: they were the ſins of the ſons of God that in a ſpecial manner brought the flood upon the world.
We may ſpeak of Poperie, and cry out of Antichriſt: but for the Antichriſt that denyes the Father and the Son, that they never did directly, but conſequentially: and yet if the main Doctrine of Antichriſt be received, favoured and countenanced, and the Teachers of them, ſurely the greateſt part of Antichriſt is amongſt us: Bernard ſpeaks of one Peter Aboliardus in his time, Bernard.Cum de Trinitate loquitur ſapit Arius: cum de gratia Pelagius: cum de perſona Chriſti Neſtorius. There are ſome men that are nothing elſe, all their Religion is a bundle of old and abſolete heriſies.
I ſpeak not this to ſtir you up to an impoſition of Doctrines upon the conſciences of men, which is commonly objected, and that all our dictates muſt be received: a liberty and an indulgence I pray you to allow in thoſe things wherein it may be granted: but a bounding of mens ſpirits by the word, is not bounding of the ſpirit, & an impoſing thoſe things, at leaſt not to be diſputed, which the Scripture ſaith without the believing of them men cannot be ſaved, this is no dangerous impoſition: but yet this I preſs not, but only that as you are in authority, you would not countenance ſuch Teachers, and that you would give your teſtimony unto the truths of God, and let the Nation, yea all the Nations of the earth know, that you are not departed from the faith to follow ſuch lying vanities; and this ſhould I look upon as a glorious anſwer of the prayers of this day, and that you do not involve your ſelves and the Nation in the ruine of theſe things threatned and feared in the judgement of moſt that are godly and conſidering Chriſtians.
Thirdly, hence alſo I cannot but infer, that they are the greateſt enemies unto the Church of God, and to any Nation, that do endeavour to corrupt the Doctrines of Religion, and are to be looked upon as ſuch; though they may be men of great parts, and otherwiſe for a State intereſt uſeful; yet if the bent of their ſpirits do run out this way, to corrupt the Doctrines of godlineſs, & to oppoſe and decry them that do ſupport them, let me tell you, all the ſervice that they can do you, will not countervail this loſs; for though they may be cryed up for Saints, yet theſe are the great Engineers for Satan in the world: as Iraeneus hath a ſtory of Cerinthus, whom he calls, foreign,Iraeneus. and they are the greateſt deſigners for Popery: I will not ſay it is finis operantis, but operis it is: as Contzen the Jeſuite, Error cui patrocinium deerit, ſine pugna concidet: This I ſpeak as that which I am perſwaded in my conſcience will and doth provoke God both againſt you and your Government, &c.
Secondly, keep cloſe to the word in the matter of worſhip: ſervices tendred unto God muſt be word-ſervice: and if not, you will never proſper: for elſe,
Firſt, it is worſhiping of Devils, and not God, Rev. 9.20. Now to bring in worſhiping of Devils amongſt you and not God, will be that which will cauſe the Lord to depart from you.
Secondly, it is an image of Idolatry: and ſo much the greater, if there be a hand of the antients of Iſrael in it, Ezek. 8.3. it will provoke God to depart from a Nation.
Thirdly, this hath deſtroyed the moſt flouriſhing Churches and Nations, Hoſ. 8.5,6. Thy Calf Oh Samaria hath caſt thee off, &c. and the Eaſtern part of the Empire, Rev. 9.20. It was their Idolatry in worſhip that did it.
Fourthly, it will bring vengeance upon the Nations as well as on the Churches, Hoſ. 8.7. They have ſown wind, and reapt the whirl-wind: Ezek. 10.2. fire from the Altar, and ſcattered over the City, it burns the hotteſt. 2. Chron. 7.20. I will pluck you up by the roots out of the Land, ſaies God.
Thirdly, keep cloſe to the word in point of practiſe alſo: perſonal holineſs the Lord requires of them that would proſper in their way, and have God with them in their Government. 1 Sam. 12.24,25. they had ſet up a new Government, and the Lord had anſwered their deſires; I but he ſaith, fear the Lord, and ſerve him in truth, and with all your hearts, and conſider how great things the Lord hath done for you: but if you ſhall ſtill do wickedly, &c. there the wickedneſs of a people indulged by the Magiſtrate, will bring a Judgement upon the Government, 1 King. 14.5,7. if thou ſhalt walk before me as David thy Father walked, in integrity of heart, then, &c.
Here you ſee the Apoſtacy of the Governors will bring a Judgement upon the Nation, nay though it be but a perſonal Apoſtacy: hear, and fear, and tremble, you that are the Rulers of the Nation.
Secondly, this is the way to get you honour in the hearts of men when you reform your lives: purifie your hearts, and your houſes as well as your hearts; there is a double image that the Magiſtrate muſt gain authority by, an Image in you as men, as well as upon you as Magiſtrates: the Elders were crowned, and alſo cloathed with white garments, Rev. 4.9.
Thirdly, not keeping cloſe to the word in point of practice, is the way to provoke God to lay you aſide, and not to delight in you: he loves veſſels fitted for the Maſters uſe; when you are faithful to God in waies of holineſs, as well as unto the Nation in waies of Juſtice, Iſa. 8.2. And I took unto me faithful witneſſes to record, Uriah the Prieſt, &c. A man may be faithful in diſcharging ſome truſt put upon him by men, but yet be unfaithful to God in waies of holineſs: Contah was a deſpiſed broken Idol, a veſſel in whom God had no pleaſure, one that God will ſet himſelf to diſgrace; God will pour out contempt upon Princes, and all ungodly Magiſtrates; and if you alſo walk unholily, there will be a ſhame poured upon all your glory: they muſt be called, and faithful, and choſen, that God will delight to uſe. Conſider the Judgement upon Shebna, he and all his lumber was caſt down, Iſa. 22.16,17,18. if men in authority be vain-glorious and ſelf-ſeeking, though they have made many men their creatures, and raiſed parties to ſtrengthen their intereſt, God will ſweep away all ſuch rubbiſh.
Fourthly, this will be a teſtimony to you, if you walk holily and faithfully, that you are called to the imployment in mercy and not in wrath, if the graces of the condition God hath placed you in be exerciſed: indeed a man may exerciſe parts and gifts, but …at doth not make a man acceptable in the ſight of God: if the imployment a man is in do draw out and improve his corruption, certainly it was in wrath, not in mercy that he was placed in it: therefore Remember your firſt love, 2 Chron. 17.3,5,6. walk in your firſt waies, that yee may have an intereſt in God to attain mercy from him for your ſelves and for the people: Oh how powerful would the prayers of gracious Magiſtrates be? and how able are they, as Moſes was, to ſtand in the gap, and to turn away wrath: they are the ſhields of the earth, Pſal. 47.9. and they are to be ſcuta Deo & hominibus, to keep off Judgements from breaking in upon the people from God, as well as violences one from another: and can a man do that? can he think to turn off wrath from a Nation, who doth expect Judgement upon himſelf daily, and is in continuall danger of it? And if there be any amongſt you that are unſound-hearted under all your ſhews, the Lord will diſcover you; for, Iob 34.30. He will not have the hypocrite raign, leſt the people be enſnared: the word ſignifies a man that walks in a cloud, or hath an artificial covering, that men may not ſee and obſerve his ſteps: God hates ſuch men in authority, and for his peoples ſake he will not have them raign: therefore let me exhort you to be ſincere and truly holy in your own perſons: many of you have been judged ſo to be; continue in it, manifeſt it, let it appear that you are better by authority, not worſe: you are called Gods upon earth; Oh how unworthy the name of a God will ſuch be? A drunken God, an unclean covetous God? &c. Oh let ſuch things be not ſo much as named amongst you, but with abhorrency, as becomes Saints: ſee to whom the promiſe of protection is made, and of exaltation alſo, Iſa. 33.15. he that walketh righteouſly, and ſpeaketh uprightly, he that deſpiſeth the gain of oppreſsion, that ſhaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that ſtoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and ſhutteth his eyes from ſeeing evil, he ſhall dwell on high, and the place of his defence ſhall be the munitions of Rocks: bread ſhall be given him, and his waters ſhall be ſure, &c.
Ile add but a few conſiderations, a little to quicken you to this duty. Ile but name them.
Conſider, firſt the mercies that you have received, Deut. 8.10. a people purchaſed with mercy, redeemed with a mighty hand; ſaved, yea with great ſalvation.
Secondly, the opportunities you have had, Prov. 17.16. opportunity is a price, talentum maximum: there is a time when the Angels ſtir the waters: and if you miſs an opportunitie of doing good, God may never honour you with one again.
Thirdly, remember the promiſes that you have made in the daies of your diſtreſs, &c. What have you held forth to the Nation, nay to all the world, with hands lifted up to the moſt high; and vowed the endeavour of a reformation; and it is a ſnare after vows to make enquiry; the delay of a vow was viſited upon Iacob twentie years after, &c.
Fourthly, conſider the expectation of the Nations: all the eyes of the Saints all the world over are upon you, and they look what you will do: God hath made your cauſe leading; let not your example hinder them that follow you in the way that you have gone, &c.
Fifthly, it will be a mighty teſtimony of your uprightneſs, that your heart is for God, and that you are ſet againſt evil things & perſons, &c. Pſal. 139.21,22. David appeals to God in it: Oh that many of you could do ſo, as he ſaid, amicum amo in Deo, inimicum propter deum: they are your corruptions that are ſnares both to you and the Nation.
Sixthly, what account can you give to God? you muſt all appear before God, and come to Judgement: and to whom much is given, of him much ſhall be required: and they can never give an account to God in Judgement, that cannot give an account before hand unto the Word by which they ſhall be Judged: This is the way to proſper, and that the fear of you may fall upon all the Land that you ſhall tread upon, as the promiſe is, Deut. 11.25. God gives men favour many times in the ſight of their enemies, and he makes them a fear to all round about them: and by this you ſhall eſtabliſh the Government that you have begun, and God ſhall give you in the hearts of his people, and ye ſhall proſper in whatſoever you take in hand, then ſhall you make your way proſperous, then ſhall you have good ſucceſs.