The Trust and the Account of a Steward, Sermon
A Sermon Preached before THE HONORABLE HOVSE OF COMMONS, at Margarets Weſtminſter, on the 28th of Aprill 1647. being the day of Publique HUMILIATION and FASTING.
LUKE 16.2.
Give an Account of thy Stewardſhip, for thou maiſt be no longer Steward.
GReat men have anciently had their Monitors; remembrancers unto them, Fan… eſt fiſtihbus …a…aſſe Agathe. cleareg…. Quarenti cauſam reſpondit. Rex ego qui ſum Steania, ſignl… ſum ge…. t…rt, Satus. Auſon.both of their originall, and their duty. The Sicilian Prince had his earthen place to tell him daily that he was but a Potters Son. Philip of Macedon had his Page who cryed every morning in his hearing: foreign. Aelian var. Hiſtor. l. 8. c. 15. Briſſon. deform…l. p. 358.And the Romane Triumphers in the height of all their glory, had a Servant behinde them, who did ſuggeſt: Hominem memento te. Great men ſhall not find a greater difficulty, Magnus eſt dives, qui non ideo ſe magnum pulat, quia diver eſt Auſtin. de tempore. Rev. 25. Bern.then to keepe their hearts low, when their places are high. As in ſpirituall things it is hard, being fallen to remember whence wee are fallen: So in temporall things, being riſen, it is hard to remember from whence wee aroſe.
Rara Virtus eſt humilitas purpurata. Its a thouſand to one but as they ſay of the Pope at his inſtalment, mutatio nominis, becomes mutatio hominis. And men called Gods by Office, are apt to conceive themſelves to be Gods by Eſſence.
There is a double curſe that is come upon every Creature, and every condition of the Creature ſince the fall. It is deceiving, it raiſeth mens expectations, and it is defiling, it drawes out their corruptions.
God hath ſet up his Miniſters in an eſpeciall manner for this end, Intellig… percuſtoder Dutes, Paſto res, Prophetas, Sacerdetes, & verbi Miniſties, quorum onmium … ex…ubia… agere… ſa…ute ae ſecuritate populi. &c. Marlor. in Eſayant. …. a La…de in l. c. Mr. Newcon…ens Ser. before both Houſes, Iuly 7. 1643. 1 Pet. 1.1….13.not only to be his Remembrancers (for ſome apply that unto them as an Act of Office, Eſay. 62.6.) but to be your Remembrancers and Monitors in his name, who in them ſpeakes from Heaven.
I will not be negligent (ſaith the Apoſtle) to put you alwaies in remembrance of theſe things, though yee know them, and be ſtabliſhed in the preſent truth. Yea I thinke it meete as long as I am in this Tabernacle, to ſtir you up by putting you in remembrance. And the Lord awaken his Watchmen, and your Remembrancers, that they ceaſe not to warne you night and day with teares. Wee muſt minde you of your condition: You are made of the ſame clay with other men; that your hearts be not lifted up above your Brethren. Wee muſt cry unto you. Earth, Earth, …et. 22.….Earth, heare the word of the Lord. Which the enſuing words intimate, to be ſpoken of the King; though many Interpreters apply them to the Kingdome. Wee muſt minde you of your diſſolution, you ſhall dye like men, as other ordinary men doe. Pſal. 8….…. … Regi & … Com…. Ep…cter. …ſ. 4….1…. 2 Cor 5.10. Heb. 12.23. Col. 3.25 & 4.1. Iob. 3….14.21.22.Nay, in a worſe manner; Man being in honour, and underſtanding not, may be compared to the Beaſts that periſh.
And wee muſt minde you of your Account, tell you there is a higher then the higheſt, and that you who now judge others, ſhall be your ſelves judged: For wee muſt all appeare before the Judgement Seate of Chriſt, and then the preſent differences and diſtances ſhall be done away; you ſhall be ſtripped of all theſe Robes, and ſtand upon equall tearmes before God, Index quiſ que ju…icit ſu… ſup…nu… Ind…cem … Chrylolog. Serm. 26.with the meaneſt under your command. Nay, if you proove unjuſt Stewards, upon worſe tearmes; gaining nothing by your preſent honour, but this, that you ſhall have the greater Account to make, and the more dreadfull Sentence to expect. And the higher your advancement hath been heere, the lower ſhall your abaſement be hereafter.
There is among Interpreters great difference about the occaſion, connexion, and application of this Parable, in ſomuch that Cajetan ventured to ſay, Applicationem hujus Parabolae, Cajetan in loc Quaſi spiritus ſanctut ſimictudines a ſcop… altenas oſſumpſerit; ut per… a… nos d…ceret myſteria e…l…ſtia. Sal. meron in Parabolas Evang. tractat. 29. In Parabolis ſe…pus dicentu primo attendendus eſt. Glaſſ. Phi…ol ſacr. l. 2. p 451.non ſolum difficilem eſſe, ſed & impoſſbilem: Which Salmeron blames him for, as ſpeaking unadviſedly with his lips. But I am reſolved not to trouble you or detaine you, with any ſtrife of words: Judging no controverſie to befit a day of Humiliation, but the Lords controverſie.
That wee may finde out the meaning of the Parable, let us take that ordinary Rule given by Interpreters concerning Parables, which is to obſerve the ſcope to which it is applyed. In all Chriſts Parables ther are two things foreign & foreign & his intention in the former, is commonly declared in the latter. This Parable ends at the 8 verſe, and the Application begins at the 9. And I ſay unto you make unto your ſelves friends of the Mammon of unrighteouſneſſe, that when yee faile they may receive you into everlaſting habitations. He that is faithfull in that which is leaſt, is faithfull alſo in much, In hac Paralela Chriſtus monet. 1. Ʋtommbus medu du…eant p…ex… mu ben…facere 2 Ejuſmodi benefieia, qua proximo exhibemus, non perite, ſed in vitam … ferva…i. 3 Decet verum uſum … temp…ralium &c. Calv. Chemnit. Stella. A Lap. Gaſp. M. loc. in loc.and he that is unjuſt in the leaſt, is unjuſt alſo in much. If therefore yee have not been faithfull in the unrighteous Mammon, who will commit to your truſt the true riches, and if yee have not beene faithfull in that which is another mans, who ſhall give you that which is your own? From whence the ſcope of the Parable ſeemes evidently to be this. To exhort all men that are betruſted by God heere: with Eſtates, Honours, Authority, and opportunity to make uſe of all theſe unto ſpirituall ends, the glory of God, gaining the love, and refreſhing the bowells of their fellow ſervants; and thereby laying up a good foundation for themſelves, that they may lay hold of eternall life. That having beene faithfull in the Mammon of unrighteouſnes, God may be pleaſed to truſt them with the true Treaſure. And this exhortation is preſſed from the example of the unjuſt Steward; who knowing the time of his Stewardſhip was but ſhort; improoved his truſt, power, and authority, Inſolertia … ſimilitudiuis ſita eſt, non tu fact… improbitate. Grot iule…. No… aliquande faci…us damnamus, & tamen laudamus ingentilum. Chem…t.to make proviſion for himſelfe. And the Lord commended the unjuſt Steward, propter ſolertiam, non improbitatem: Becauſe he had done wiſely. There is a ſharpe reproofe contained in theſe words, the Children of this world are wiſer in their generation, then the Children of Light. Surely the Children of Light ſhould be as wiſe in their Generation to accompliſh ſpirituall and eternall; as the Children of this world are to accompliſh their worldly and temporall ends.
In the words wee have three things. Firſt, his Office and condition, he is a Steward. Secondly, his depoſition and ejection: The ſame rich man who committed to him this truſt; doth for his unfaithfulneſſe therein caſt him out. Thou maieſt be no longer Steward. Thirdly, the Account that he muſt give when he goes out of his Office of all his receipts and expences, the goodneſſe that he hath received, and the goods that he hath waſted: And from hence theſe three obſervations doe ariſe.
Firſt, all men, even thoſe in the higheſt Place, and the greateſt Honour, are but Stewards unto God.
Secondly, their Stewardſhip ſhall have an end, they ſhall not be alwaies Stewards.… elegaoter Epiſ… vel paſt…r… typum getit. Petiſt…etiam exte…dia… principes ſeculates, qui Regnu, vel Provin. …gubern…dup aſic…untur Dem que ad quemiun que patrem familiar, qu…al… rum cu…am …rit, vel ad quamvu Chriſtianum qui conſcientia ſ…a curam hab…t. Salmeton trall. 29. in Parah.
Thirdly, when they goe out of their Stewardſhip they ſhall give an Account And theſe three ſhall be the bounds of our preſent diſcourſe.
Firſt, of his Office and condition, he is a Steward. This is by ſome applyed to the Magiſtracy, by ſome to the Miniſtry, by ſome to all Rulers, of what kinde ſoever, by ſome unto every particular perſon; who hath received ſome tallents from God, and is betruſted with his goods whether it be riches, Honours, Authority, Parts, or whatſoever elſe, to be imployed for the glory of God, the good of others, and his owne ſpirituall and eternall advantage.
All men, even thoſe in the higheſt Place, and greateſt Honour, are but Stewards unto God.
In the opening whereof I ſhall propound to you foure generall conſiderations.
Firſt, you are Stewards, and that is a Title of the greateſt truſt. God hath indeed immediately but one Steward, Jeſus Chriſt the Mediator, the man of his right-hand, the Father hath given all things into his hands, Io. 3.35. & 5 22. Math 28 11. Io. 17.2. Iſalm 8.6 1 Cor. 15.27. Heb. 2 8. Eph 1 22. 1 Cor. 15.28. Heb 2.13. Io. 17.4.hath put all things in ſubjection under his feete. The diſpenſation and adminiſtration of both Covenants, is committed unto him. He hath made him the Head of the Church, and over all things for the Churches ſake; and at his hands will the Lord require all theſe. He ſhall then give an account of his Stewardſhip when he ſhall give up his Kingdome to God even the Father, that God may be all in all.
But Jeſus Chriſt hath many under-Stewards in the adminiſtration of all things here below. Eph. 1.11. & 3.10. Dan. 10 11.The Angels are therefore called Principallities, if good things be to be diſpenced: An Angell comes to Daniel, and tells him, thou art greatly beloved. If wars be to be raiſed; Dan. 10.19.20.An Angell goes forth to fight againſt the King of Perſia, and then the Prince of Gracia ſhall come. Generally, the ſpirit of the living Creatures it in the wheeles. Enech. 1.20.Next unto the Angels, Pro. 8.15 16. Io. 5.22 27. 1 Tim. 6.15.Chriſt imployes Magiſtrates and Miniſters as his Stewards alſo. And as Chriſt ſhall give an account to his Father, at the giving up of his Kingdome: So ſhall they render an account to Chriſt at the giving up of their ſtewardſhip.
That it is a great truſt committed unto Magiſtrates to be Stewards under Chriſt; all the Titles given unto them in Scripture doe fully manifeſt. If a Kingdome be to be ſupported, they are the foundations of the earth, upon which it ſtands, Pſ. 82 5.foreign. If it be to be defended, Pſ. 47.9.yet are the ſheilds of the earth. If the City be beſieged, yee are the barres of the gates. If an aſſault be made, yee are the repairers of the breach. If wounds bee given, yee are the Chyrurgeons, and the healers: If the State be diſtempered, Hoſe. 116. foreign Vectes. Chald. Schindl. Druſius. Ternov. Eſay. 58.12. Eſay. 3.7. …. Sept. Pſ. 15.7.yee are the Phiſitians. All theſe Titles denote the higheſt truſt.
But yet becauſe the more fully yee know your receipts, the better ye will be able to judge of your accounts: Let us therefore more particularly look into that truſt which the Lord hath as to Stewards, committed unto you, in theſe ſix particulars.
Firſt, God hath betruſted you with the Lawes of this Land, which are the foundations upon which the Kingdome ſtands: That ancient hedge, by which wee have beene keept hitherto, from running firſt into a Common and then into a Wildernes. A hedge, ad ſeperationem, & ad munitionem; which hedge never any did attempt to breake, but a Serpent did bite him; which boundſtones never any did attempt to remove, but they were hurt therewith, Eccleſ. 10.8. Theſe Lawes are the common inheritance, and patrimony of every free-borne Subject; the common refuge and Aſylum of every oppreſſed ſoule. Theſe are committed to you as Stewards in a double reſpect, in the legiſlative and the Judiciary power.
The legiſlative power; I ſay, is yours; becauſe in you all the Lawes of the Land begin; they are by you propounded, by you deſired. Flet al. 1 …7. Sect. 6. Rex Anglia leges ſine ſubditarum aſſ…nſu mutare non poteſt: nec ſubjectum populum renitentem o nerare imp…ſitionibus peregi…is; quare papulus ejus libere fru…tur bonis ſu…, legibu…, quas cupit regulatus &c. Fo…eſcue de laud: legum Angl. c 9 Rex meliut per altos quam per ſe…pſum judiciaredd…t quo, proprio …e nullus regum Angliae juduiumpreſe reuſus eſt. ibid. c. 8. p. 24. Eſay 58.6. Amos 5.21.24. Ioſh 7.10.And Laws they cannot be unleſſe by you conſented to. Lex Regia non eſt quicquid de voluntate Regis tantummodo praeſumptum eſt; ſed quod magnatum ſuorum conſilio & aſſenſu definitum fuerit. Take heed therefore that you leave no unjuſt or unneceſſary Lawes unrepealed: Take heed there bee no unjuſt or dangerous Lawes enacted, leſt you eſtabliſh iniquity by a Law.
The Iudiciary power alſo is yours: See that Iuſtice be executed according unto Law without partiality without delay: God expects, that in your faſtings you ſhould looſe the bands of wickedneſſe, unty the heavie burdens, let the oppreſſed goe free, and that you ſhould breake every yoke. God will not ſmell in your ſolemne. Aſſemblies unleſſe Juſtice run downe like water, and judgement as a mighty ſtreame. Seeke judgement, releeve the oppreſſed, then come, pray to me, and reaſon with me; this is the Lords order Eſay 1.15. or elſe God will anſwer you as he did Joſhua praying, Wherefore lyeſt thou upon thy face? Iſrael hath ſinned in the accurſed thing. What accurſed things there are among you, God knowes. There is a great cry of accurſed things in the Nation. The children call for bread, and there is none to breake it to them. The Subjects cry for juſtice, and there is none to diſpence it. It is an honorable title indeed for Magiſtrates to be called the ſhields of the earth; but very diſhonourable for them to become ſcuta praedatorum (as the ordinary Gloſſe renders that place) ſhields of, Pſal 74.9.and ſhelters for Robbers. Mountaines of prey, Pſ. 74.20.that the high places of the Earth, ſhould be full of the habitations of cruelty.
Secondly, God hath be truſted you with the lives, liberty, and property of this Great people: Lam. 4.20. Sub cuju, cutela ſperate adluc & reſpirare poſſumus Tarnov in loc. Eſa 2… 23. 24. Eſa. 32.1.2. Nah. 2.5. foreign Teſtudo militaris, ſub qua milites tecti murumſubcunt. Druſ. in loc. Hab. 1.14.and for all theſe you muſt give an account. Ye are the breath of our noſtrils, the naile faſtened in a ſure place, upon which the veſſells of all quantities hang. If our liberties be to be defended, ye are our hiding place. If they be to be vindicated, ye are our covering, under whoſe ſhadow, next under the ſhadow of the wings of the Almighty, we hope to be ſafe. If the lives of the Subjects of England be not protected; if their Property be not preſerved; if their liberties be not vindicated; but they are left, even as fiſhes of the Sea that have no King, but the great ones devoure the leſſe without controll; truly at your hands will the Lord require it. And though you may be able by your power now, to preſerve your ſelves, from thoſe violences and oppreſſions, which formerly you were liable to, equally with other men; yet know that not only your owne good, Eſa. 22.24.but the good of the whole depends upon you. There muſt hang upon you cups as well as flaggons. A good Magiſtrate ought to bee in the Commonwealth as the ſoule in the body, which is tota in qualibet parte.
Thirdly, God hath betruſted you with the Religion, Ordinances, and worſhip of God in this Kingdome, and in an eſpeciall manner with this great worke of Reformation, which he did ſo unexpectedly begin, and hath ſo far made bare his Arme to carry on, againſt the higheſt oppoſition that could be made, by the power or policie of this, and the neighbouring Kingdomes, Rom. 3.2. The Apoſtle ſaith, The Oracles of God were committed to the Jews foreign; ſo committed that they were concredited; not for their owne perſons only, but that they might bee tranſmitted by them to their poſterity. So are the Ordinances of God committed unto you, that you may tranſmit them. Surely the ſtability of the Kingdom ſtands in the Religion of it. If the Lord caſt the houſe which he hath ſanctified for his name out of his ſight, 2 Chron. 7.20.he will quickly pluck you up by the roots out of the land which he hath given you. Ezek. 16.39.If he throw downe your eminent place, Ezech 10.2.they ſhall quickly ſtrip you of all your cloaths, take away your faire Jewells and leave you naked and bare, Iniqua nonquam regna perpotuo …anent. Sen. Thyeſt. 2.1for the fire that burnes the City is taken off the Altar. Ʋbi non eſt ſanctitas pietas, fides inſtabile regnum. Wiſdome and knowledge ſhall be the ſtability of thy times and ſtrength of ſalvation; the feare of the Lord is his treaſure, Eſay 33.6. If you would not have the Kingdome to be rooted up; let not Religion be rooted out. Let it be only Mariana's opinion, ut nihil princeps de Religione ſtatuat. And let it ever be thought an evil conſequence amongſt reaſonable men; that becauſe Magiſtrates cannot conſtraine mens conſciences, Revel. 17.5.therefore they may not reſtraine their actions, their errours. Surely Rome is Myſtery, Babylon the Great mother of the Harlots, Rev. 17.13.14.16.17 Quam …up…o atā habeti, … …tam conſenſione Imperato … obſ quium… …am certa ſit … r… aliena… … nerum, & tan demilla ult… vaſtatio, … & idemeſt a … utriuſque. Brightin. in Revel. 17. Downames Treat. concern. Antichriſt. l. 1. c 9and as it was the ſinne of the ten Kings to give their Kingdomes to the beaſt, to receive his mark, in their right hand and in their fortheads: Submit themſelves, and uſe their power, to cauſe thoſe under their authority to do the like. So when the Lambe ſhall overcome them: which ſhall be by their converſion, not their deſtruction, and they ſhall hate the where, eat her fleſh and burne her with fire: they ſhall then uſe their power againſt her in the ſame way that they did for her when they gave their Kingdomes to her, ſc. by hating her themſelves, and cauſing all under their domion, to their utmoſt, to doe the like. Surely Rome ſhall fall as well by the Civill, as the Spirituall power, by the Sword as well as the Word, and the ten Kings ſhall make her deſolate. This is approved by God, as being the Magiſtrates duty even in matters of Religion; which doubtleſſe they ſhall exerciſe each of them in their owne Kingdomes reſpectively; before they ſhall goe forth to make War againſt her in a forreigne nation. Contra Cr…ſeen. G…ammas. l. 3. c. 51.And Auſtin hath concluded, In hoc Reges Deo ſerviant in quantum Reges. So far therefore as Religion is corrupted, the worſhip of God prophaned, the faith once given to the Saints blaſphemed; if it come under your cognizance, it will be ſet upon your account.
Fourthly, God hath betruſted you with the Saints and the Church of God among you. Iam 1.18. Mal 3.17.Theſe he hath firſt committed unto Chriſt, not as an ordinary gift, but as the firſt fruits of the creatures, Iam. 1.18. Mal. 3.17. Eſay 49.8. Rom. 8.24.… Eſay 44.28. Pſa. 105.15.16. Eſay 43.4.as the choiſeſt jewils among all the treaſures of the Creation, for whoſe ſake, and by whoſe Covenant the world ſtands, for whoſe good chiefly the Magiſtracy is appointed; for whoſe ſake the Lord will reprove Kings: and for whoſe lives God will give Nations. David ſaith, his eyes in government ſhould be upon the ſaithfull in the land. Pſal. 101.6.Take heed how you neglect or deſpiſe one of theſe little ones; and how you prefer unto theſe a diſciplinarian Saint; but a prophane man, a drunkard, a railer, a curſed ſpeaker, whoſe Religion began with his opinion; and whoſe profeſſion hath riſen with the hopes of his preferment. Take heed when ſentence is to bee executed upon a prophane man, who hath a member to be cut off; that you turne not the backe of the ſword of Authority; and when a godly man hath but a haire amiſſe, you turne the edge and ſtrike a full blow. This may tend to advance formility, but will never piety. Surely with God neither circumciſion availes any thing, nor uncircumciſion, but a new creature; Gal. 5.6. & 6.15. Col. 3.11.and methinks nothing elſe ſhould availe with us, For the Kingdome of God conſiſts not in externals, and formes, after this or that way, but in righteouſneſſe, and peace, and joy in the holy Ghoſt, he that in theſe things ſerveth God, is accepted of God and approved of all good men, Rom. 14.17, 18. It is your duty therefore to cheriſh holineſſe, in what ſhape ſoever it be repreſented; and to diſcountenance prophaneneſſe, what vizard ſoever it may put on.
Fifthly, God hath betruſted you with the guidance of this great people, which Salomon looked upon as a very great truſt; and therefore made it his only requeſt, 1 King. 3.9.that God would give him wiſdome to goe in and out before ſo great a people. Ezek. 31.17.You are the armes by which they are led, Pſal. 77.20. he led his people like a flock by the hand of Moſes and Aaron. 2 Sam. 14.17.You are the Angels that God hath appointed for their conduct; and to you the generality of the people looke; as to the pillar of fire and the cloud for direction. You have a virtuall influence into the whole Nation, the people generally being a lumpe ready to receive any leaven: thoſe that will willingly walke after any commandement whether for good or evill. Let it not be charged upon you, Eſay 9.16.The leaders of this people have cauſ'd them to erre, and they that are led by them are deſtroyed; Ier. 50.6.or that my people have been loſt ſheepe, their ſhepherds have cauſed them to goe aſtray, they have turned them away on the mountaines, they have gone from mountaine to hill, they have forgotten their reſting place. Formerly neglects in this kinde might be ſomewhat extenuated, by the extremity of the War; but now God hath ſubdued your enemies, and made the way plaine before you. If ſome better courſe bee not taken for the guidance of the people; God will ſurely put it upon your account.
Sixtly, God hath betruſted you with the proſperity, happineſſe and hopes of the neighbouring Churches. Publique perſons ſhould have publique ſpirits, and theſe will have publique deſignes. It is a hireling, that lookes no further then his owne party, the raiſing of his owne family, and the feathering of his owne neſt. The glory of God, the advancement of the Kingdome of Chriſt, the care of all the Churches, ſhould bee the matter of all your debates and conſultations. Private men have but ſhort hands; they can only reach out their prayers unto the Churches neceſſities. But men in publique imloyments they have long hands, large opportunities. It were a conſultation worthy of a Parliament to ſay, …We have a little ſiſter, a dying ſiſter, and ſhe hath no breaſts, what ſhall we do for our ſiſter in the day that ſhe ſhall be ſpoken for? Ireland calls, cries, ſtretcheth out her hands all the day long unto you; they have looked for aſſiſtance, even till their eyes faile. God knows where the ſtop and obſtruction is, and will certainly ſearch it out. For you to have the honour to be the repairers of the breach, the reſtorers of Cities to dwell in; for God to give you your ſiſters for daughters, …which is the promiſe made to the Jewes in their returne; theſe things ſhould be great in your eyes.
If you conſider theſe particulars, and take off your eyes from your Honour, and fixe them upon the truſt committed to you, and the account that will be required of you; you will conclude it is no light thing to ſit within your walls. Therefore as the Apoſtle ſaith of the Miniſters. Let men eſteeme of us as the Miniſters of Chriſt, 1 Cor. 4.1.and ſtewards of the myſteries of God: ſo we doe account of you, as the Miniſters of Chriſt, and Stewards of all the pretious things of this Nation: and ſo humbly deſire you to eſteem your ſelves.
Secondly, though you are Stewards, yet you are but Stewards: not owners, and Proprietaries. For this Steward was accuſed to his Lord for waſting his goods: therefore the goods in the hand of the Steward, remained to bee the Lords ſtill. Hee hath not ſo committed any thing to your truſt, as to relinquiſh his owne intereſt in it, or care over it; you muſt therefore imploy all according to his appointment, and direction: leſt one day you be found waſters and unjuſt ſtewards. If Miniſters who are the ſtewards of the myſteries of God, in his word doe ſeeke to themſelves preeminence; draw diſciples after them, dawbe with untempered morter; make merchandize of the Truths of God, or the ſoules of men; pollute the name of God, for handfulls of barly, and peeces of bread; to ſlay the ſoules that ſhould not dye, and to ſave the ſoules that ſhould not live; this is to abuſe their power in the Goſpell. So for Magiſtrates, to make uſe of their authority, to inrich their families, gaine to themſelves a party, pleaſure their friends, and cruſh their adverſaries; this is to abuſe their power in the Kingdome; this is waſting your Lords goods for which he will call you to an account.
Here give me leave to mind you, Firſt: Le… eſt quaſi organon divinitus datum, quo ſocietates humanae optime regantur Stephan. …nn. vindiciac…tr. Tyran. q. 3. p. 99. Leges & conſuetudines Anglia, &c.That the Lawe… of this Land are not yours: you are but ſtewards; they are Gods Lawes, and the Lawes of the people. And though they be not, as the Laws of the Medes and Perſians, unalterable: yet there is ſome thing ſacred in them while they remaine Lawes, as being the rules of the common juſtice of the Kingdome. The Magiſtrates are legum cuſtodes & miniſtri, therefore it is not in their power to diſpence with the Law at pleaſure, which is their rule in judging, as it is the peoples in obeying (except only in ſome extraordinary emergencyes for the preſervation of the publick, which the providence of man cannot foreſee, Poteſte, Regis juris eſt, qui cum ſit author juris; non debet inde naſci injuriarum occaſio, unde juranaſcuntur: & quod ex officio ſuo aliis prohibere neceſſe haber, id … perſona propria committere non. debet. Potellasenim juris ſolius Dei eſt, injuriae vero D…aboli, & cujus opera ſecerit, ejus & Miniſter erit. Fleta. l. 1. c. 17. S. 8. Si Lex violata unum liabet perſu glum Aſylum ſceleratorum. omnium foret. Qui vindicando ſceleri, gladium a lege accepit, scelus ipſum adverſus legem armate…. Jun. …in dict. …. tyran. q. 3. p. 109. Pet. Mat…n 1 Sam. 11. Hoſt. 5.10. Braclon. l. 10.8. Iudex non debet judicate delege, ſed ſecundum legem: alioquie roerentur omnia. Aug. lib. de ver… Relig. Anti…rhus tertiu… Aſiae, Rex omnibus Regni ſui V…bibusſcripſit … …quid in literis, qua ejus nomine ſcribereatur, legibus repug…aret, credereat, ſe ignaro ſcriptas fulſſe & propterea non parerent Dionyſ H…hcarn. l. 1. Si Le…es Regibus potiores ſunt, ſi Reges Legibus, ut ſervi Dominis, patere renentur; quit non legi, quam regi patere malit Quis regilegem violanti obſequatur; … contr. Tyran. q. 3. p. 107. Rex non eſt Regm proprietatius, nec uſus …. Hedienullum …egnum eſt, in quo non licear ſingulis, … jurſuum perſequi; ita ut ſ…pius Rex quam pr…tus … cadat. ibid. p. 116.nor his wiſdome prevent: And in theſe caſes, ſalut populi eſt ſuprema lex) but in a common and ordinary way of juſtice, the Law ſhould be as the publique ſtandard to meaſure all by. The Magiſtrate indeede ſhould take care, and be exact in the Lawes that he makes, that nothing in them be wanting or redundant; nothing burdenſome to the people: But being by ſerious advice and publique conſent eſtabliſhed as Lawes; if the Magiſtrate goe againſt them, he ſhall incurre the ſentence, of being one that remooves the boundes. Rex ipſe non debet eſſe ſub homine, ſed ſub Deo & ſub Lege; quia Lex Regem facit. Digna vox eſt ex Majeſtate regnantis, Legibus alligatum ſe Principem profiteri & majus eſt Imperio Legibut ſubmittere Principatum.
Secondly, that the Liberty and Property of this People are not yours. You are not Lords, but Stewards: You cannot graunt Immunities or Impunities, which the Law doth not. Leges vitae neciſ que , poteſtatem habent non Reges. As you ought not to reſtraine thoſe, whom the Law ſets at liberty: So you ought not to enlarge thoſe whom the Law hath bound. Surely, clementior paſtor eſt qui lupum, necat quam qui ſervat: he that is more mercifull then the Law, in this reſpect is cruell. And for property the meaneſt Subject hath as true a Title unto his eſtate, as the greateſt. All things in this Kingdome indeede are yours; ad Imperium, to command them according to Law, and for the neceſſity of the Nation: But they are not yours ad Patrimonium; to diſpence them at your pleaſure to whom, when, and in what manner will you.
Thirdly, the Religion of the Kingdome is not yours: It was Jeroboams brand, and will be to the end of the world; that under his Government the defection in Religion was made, that he was the Son of Nebat that made Iſrael to ſin: And it will be Jehu's diſhonour for ever, that he made Reformation, but an Act of Pollicy, to eſtabliſh the Kingdome upon himſelfe, and his Poſterity. Surely God did never commit a people to the hand of a Magiſtrate ſo; as to deveſt himſelfe of his Authority over them; but that they ſhould be ſo under the Magiſtrate as that they continue Gods people ſtill; and it is juſt with God that a people ſhould be oppreſſed, and broken in judgement; if willingly they follow ſuch commands, Hoſe 5.11.
Fourthly, Dan. 4.7. Pſal 47.9. 2 Chron. 1….6.the Publique Juſtice of the Kingdome is not yours: But God, the moſt High rules in the Kingdomes of mortall men, the ſheilds of the earth belong to God, he is with you in judgement, and when yee ſubmit your conſciences, caſt downe your Crownes; rule with him, and for him, then he is greatly exalted.
Thirdly, being Stewards, you muſt imploy all that is committed to you with wiſedome, and faithfulneſſe, Luc. 12.41. foreign. Fidel…s eſt diſpenſator, qui non quod ſuum eſt quaeris, ſed quae Ieſu Chriſti, cujus vices gerit. Quodque cedit in aedificationem & augmentum Eccleſiae in cuj… gratiam fibi omnia commiſſa ſunt. S…ella in Luc. J…ſh. 19.49. Tyrannu… non ſolum eſt ſine …lrulo, led & ex… citio.for the good of the Family, For theſe are the qualifications of a Steward mentioned by Chriſt himſelfe: Who is that faithfull and wiſe Steward, whom his Lord ſhall make ruler over his Houſehold?
Firſt, with faithfulneſſe, to give them their meate in due ſeaſon: To improove your Authority to the utmoſt for the publique good; not only to deny your ſelves, but forget your ſelves, and with Joſeph to provide for the whole Land of Aegypt, and yet to procure no poſſeſſions for himſelfe or his ſonnes therein; with Joſua to give the people of Iſrael poſſeſſion of the Land of Canaan, and reſerve nothing in it for himſelfe. This is the difference that the Phyloſopher makes betweene a King, and a Tyrant, the one ſeekes his owne, and the other the peoples good. For Magiſtrates to eate the fat, Totſerè poſſunt eſſe capita tyrannidis, quot ſunt ſpecies oppreſſionis. N…c ſolum Rextyrannus dici Injuſtè impera… poteſt; fed euam ahi qui tyt…hicè dominautur. Greg Theloſſ. Syntag. jur. l. 6.20.9.drinke the ſweete, feede themſelves, and not the flocke. This becomes not a faithfull Steward.
Secondly, with Wiſedome. Magiſtrates had neede be wiſe; even as an Angell of God, that you may ſo manage your Authority as it were to take the people by guile; to gaine upon their hearts; for he that is not in the hearts of the people, ſhall have little command of their perſons or actions. You are to engage all ſorts to you, and to take heede how you diſoblige any in an unjuſt way: Eſpecially let your wiſdome be ſeene in managing the publick Treaſure of the Kingdome with frugality, and for the publique good: (becauſe upō this the eies of the generallity are moſt fixed) that the people may ſee that you ſeeke not theirs, but them. Prodigality of the publique purſe will ever diſoblige the people to their Rulers. When Magiſtrates ſhall pleaſure friends, raiſe ſervants, advance kindred by other mens eſtates. The Turkes call tribute ſacrum populi ſanguinem, Quem profundeto, aut aliô quam ad populum defendendum convertere neſas eſt, Poſtdl. l. 3. derep. Ture. l. 4. h. 11.5.and hold it an abhominable thing to imploy it to any, but a publique uſe. For Magiſtrates as poſſeſſors to ſlay the people, and not hold themſelves guilty, and their owne Shepheards not to pity them; to be laviſh in the expence of the Treaſures of the Kingdome, that in every publique buſineſſe, becauſe it is the publique, ſo much ſhall be expended, when even the Tithe would ſuffice: Theſe things take off exceedingly the hearts of people from their Governours. You ſhould ſo ſweeten your Government with wiſdome, that it neither become burdenſome nor loathſome: Ze…h. 1….16. Carcant ſibl Reges & Iudices, ne conquaetentes repellant, vel pe…ver…è judicent, ob quod in judicio juſti Iud… filii Dei, Dei co…uent, &c.If not your right arme will quickly wither, and your right eye in judgement will be put out.
Fourthly, to quicken you to all this, there are three Arguments in the Text. Firſt, you ſhall be accuſed unto your Lord for waſting his goods, and no men have more accuſers then thoſe in publique place. ('Twere well, if this were not one of the ſins under which this Land groanes ſc. ſpeaking evill of dignities, Flera. c. 17. S. 10.and curſing the Rulers of the people.) You ſhall be accuſed if things miſcarry in your hand, by a ſeduced party, by an oppreſſed people, and the teares of the oppreſſed will come up before the Lord, Zach. 3.1. Dan. 4.17. foreign Notandum eſt duplicem perſonam Angelii imponi primò ſubſcriptores Dei facit in decteto. Poſtea dicit poſtulare, quod Angeli ſuis votis expectant humiliari cunctos moitale… & uno conſenſu & quaſi u. no ore eos accuſant coram Deo. Cal. in loc. Bracton. l. 1. c. 2.becauſe they have no Comforter. There is a cry in teares, as well as in blood. The Devils will accuſe you. Sathan ſtands at Joſhua's right hand to reſiſt him. The Angels will accuſe you, the judgement that came upon Nebuchadnezzer (that oppreſſing Prince, who gathered the riches of the Nations like Egges.) Was by the Decree of the Watchers, and the demaund, by the word of the Holy One. And your conſciences alſo will, with this unjuſt Stewards accuſe you, in that day when God ſhall judge the ſecrets of all men according to the Gospel. Cumquis habuerit juſtum Judicem & conſcientiam ſuam teſtem nihil time at niſi cauſam.
Secondly, the Text tells you, that unfaithfulneſſe in a temporall truſt, ſhall be puniſhed with ſpirituall and eternall Judgements. For he that is unfaithfull in the leaſt, will be unfaithfull alſo in much. If you have not beene faithfull, foreign. Notandum eſt, quo loco divinae mundanae fint habendae, mundus habendas eas p…o re ma…ima; ſed Chriſtut diſertè teſtatur quod ſit minimum Chemnit, in loc. Dan. 4.17. Qui dat regnum coeleſte ſolis piis dat regnum terrenum & piis & impiis Aug. Imperium Turncum quid eſt, uifi miea canibus projecta Luth. foreign, Ariſt. Eth…. l. 1. c. 5.in the Mammon of unrighteouſneſſc, who will commit unto you the true Treaſure? If you have not beene faithfull in that which is another mans, &c.
Heere wee are to obſerve three things. 1. The oppoſition betweene things temporall, riches, honours, authority, parts, learning, &c. and things ſpirituall and eternall. The one is, that which is teaſt, (men commonly looke upon them as great things, Jer. 45.5. ſeekeſt thou great things for thy ſelfe; though they were not ſo in ſubſiſtance: Yet they were in apparance:) But Chriſt ſaith that they are the leaſt of all the gifts of God, which God doth beſtow upon the baſeſt of men. It is Chriſt, and grace, and the things that concorne a better life, which the Lord eſteemes as great things, and ſo wee ſhould account them. The one is the mammon of unrighteouſneſſe; becauſe they commonly proove an occaſion of ſinning, and are a meanes to become a ſnare to the owners; but it is only Chriſt and grace that is the true Treaſure; as the foode, ſo the riches, that endure to everlaſting life. The one is another mans, that is chiefely committed to a man as a Steward; for the good of others, and it is this worlds good, which a man neither brings with him, neither ſhall he carry with him when he departs; but grace and glory are a mans owne, a treaſure that no man ſhall take from him. 2. Obſerve the end, why the Lord doth commit theſe temporall bleſſings unto men; ſc. as a tryall of their faithfulneſſe; as men doe their ſervants of whoſe fidelity they have no aſſurance; they commit to them firſt things of leſſe conſequence, that as they ſhew forth faithfulneſſe in theſe, His verbis incluſa eſt tacita comminatio; negand… bon… ſpititualia … qui abutuntur corporalibus, hac … puniendum … qui male d…prulat bona …fitoris; ut in…um Deus jud…t aeternir ….they may betruſt them with greater. 3. The uſuall puniſhment that God doth inflict upon men for abuſing temporall bleſſings is, to deny them ſpirituall, and eternall. When mens authority, and eſtates ſhall draw out their pride, oppreſſion and licentiouſneſſe, that they beate their fellow-ſervants, and eat and drinke with the drunken, they becomming beaſts in their lives, its no wonder, if at death they be compared to the beaſts that periſh, and that abuſing temporall mercy, God is juſtly provoked to deny them grace here, and glory hereafter. And it will be enough to ſilence them all at laſt day, to tell them, becauſe they were not faithfull in the unrighteous Mammon, therefore the Lord did not commit unto them the true treaſure.
Thirdly he ſhall be turned out of his ſtewardſhippe in wrath, for his unfaithfulneſſe, and be caſt out as an abhominable branch; the muſt be no longer Steward: And this brings us unto the ſecond point propoſed, which is,
The greateſt Stewardſhip upon earth ſhall have an end. Poct. 2.Men ſhall not be alwaies Stewards.
God doth commonly put men out of their ſtewardſhip three waies. Frſt, by the power of an enemy; as Zedechi…h was put out of his ſtewardſhip by the King of Babylon when he was carried captive; ſoyee may ſee an enimy in your habitations; an enemy ſitting upon your ſeates, Eſay. 1.20. Dan. 4.32. Hoſe. 5.12. Per brachium inteliigitur roour per occulum prudentia. Cal. Privati poteſtatem non habent, nee ullum jus gladii; & ut gladium us non tradidit Deus, ita nec uſum gladii ab iis repoſcit. Privatis dicitur, mitte gladium tuum in vaginam. A Magiſtratibus: non geritis gladium fruſtra. Iun. vindis. p 56. Nemo de facto Regis preſumat diſputare ve…utamen in populo regendo ſupe…io. res habet; ſc…legem per quam factus ut Rex, & Curiam, ſc. Comites, & Parones; qui cum viderint Regem ſine frano, fraenum ſibi apponere tenentur. Fleta l. 1. c. 17. S. 9. Iob. 3.19. foreign. &c. Morbi & ſi quid aliud nos mortalitatis admones. Grot. in loe.ſupplying your places, and you your ſelves thruſt out.
Secondly, by the tumuls of the people, there is a particular curſe of God upon the Magiſtracy in taking off the hearts of the people from them: Either openly and at once; as in the caſe of Rehoboam, and Nebuchadnezzar, for their cruelty and oppreſſion, deſtroying their Land, and ſl…tying their people. God giving them up unto ſuch curſed waies, that their owne Subjects caſt them out of their Dominions. Or ſecretly, and by degrees, for God is not alwaies a Lyon to a State; but ſometimes a Moth, and the Prophet Zach. 11.16. ſpeakes of the withering of the ſhepheards right arme, which is the decay of his authority, and ruling power by degrees. Some ſeditious Libells you know have beene ſcattered abroad, of the peoples reaſſuming their power, which doubtleſſe is wicked; for God never put the ſword into the peoples hands; but yet though it may be the ſin of the people, it may be the puniſhment of the Magiſtrate, and the judgement of the Kingdome.
Thirdly, by death, at utmoſt, then your ſtewardſhip ſhall have an end; theſe relations are but for the time of this life, and then theſe Robes ſhall be taken off, then ſhall yee faile. foreign. (which the Septuagint renders often for that word foreign in the Hebrew, Jer. 42.17. and 22. They ſhall dye, or faile by the ſword, by the Famine, and by the Peſtilence) and lay downe your honour in the duſt. And there is not a ſickneſſe, or any bodily infirmity that befalls any of you, but it is a Monitour to preach this Doctrine; give an account of thy ſtewardſhip, for thou canſt not long remaine a Steward.
And this brings us unto the third point; them ſhall not be only a laying downe of the preſent office and …onour, but it muſt be with an account.
Doct.3.When men in the higheſt place are put out of their ſtewardſhip, they muſt give an account of their carriage therein, and the greater their truſt is, the heavier will their reckoning be.
An account unto men, if you would once reſolve to adjuſt the accounts, and pay the debts of the Kingdome, (which by your owne promiſes yee are engaged to, and will certainely by all men be expected at your hands) would be unto many an unjuſt Steward in theſe dayes, as the hand-writing upon the wall was to Bleſhazzar, and would have the ſame effect; their countenances would change, their thoughts trouble them, the joints of their loines be looſed, and their knees ſmite one againſt another. To all ſuch I ſay, as one to the King, ſaying he is for his accounts anſwerable to none, …racton. l. 1 c. 1.ſatu ſufficit ei ad poenam, quod Dominum expectet ultorem, and if a day for theſe mens Audits here never come; yet this is enough, there remaines for them an account unto God. There is a ſtory of one Uſthazanes an Eunuch Tutor to Sapores the King of Perſia, foreign …ozomen. l 2. c. 3.a man of great honour at Court, and an eſpeciall Favourite who had formerly beene a Chriſtian, and afterwards for feare had fallen againe to the Idolatry of the Heathen, and worſhipped the Sun: He ſeeing Simeon the Arch-Biſhop of Seleucia paſſing by, being carried to priſon, came to him and ſaluted him, the Biſhop with great indignation reproved him for his Apoſtacy and paſſed by; with which he was ſo afflucted, that he caſt off his Courtly apparrell, and put on blacke the habit of a mourner, and with great bitterneſſe cryed out, Oh wretched man that I am, how ſhall I appeare before God; whom I have denyed, and what may I expect from him; when Simeon my ancient friend will not owne me, but turnes from me. Unto God yee muſt give an account, not only of your ſelves as men; but alſo as Magiſtrates. Cal. 6.…. …om. 14.12.Every man ſhall beare his owne burden; every one of us ſhall give an account of him elſe unto God. This I ſhall reduce to theſe two neads. 1. As Magiſtrates yee ſhall give an account of your ſelves. 2. Of the people committed unto you.
1. Ye muſt give an account of your ſelves as Magiſtrats, in theſe particulars.
1. Of your ends in entring upon this great employment; what it was that yee did propound to your ſelves when you deſired it; whether it was for a private advantage or for a publique ſervice, to be in a condition to honour God, and further a Reformation, that the Kingdome of Chriſt may be exalted: Or elſe to be in an eſtate to ſecure your ſelves, pleaſure your friends, and to make benefit of the times (which is to be feared of many who either declined, or deſerted the ſervice at firſt, and have ſince deſired it, and laboured for it) Then you ſhall give an account whether your end with Jehu was to raiſe your Families, and to rote your ſelves in the Kingdome, or whether with the bramble in Jothams parable, your aimes were to have other men put themſelves under any of your ſhadows, that he might become King of the trees.
2. Yee ſhall give an account of all your parts, and how yee have uſed them for or againſt the truth. Achitophel was a great Politician, whoſe counſell was as if a man had asked at the Oracle of God. Tertullus was an eloquent Oratour, facundus ſed malo publico, of theſe they ſhall ſurely give an account. Some men there are, who by their parts of nature and abilities of language, can turne themſelves into any ſhape, guild and varniſh over any thing; ſo as to put a faire gloſſe upon it, who love diverticulaes and turne aſide unto crooked waies; Pſ. 125.5.can like unto the Planets moove with the Orbe, and yet reſerve to themſelves their owne private and proper motion: Can ſaile ſeemingly to ſuch a Port with a full gale, and yet with a ſide winde turne about to a quite contrary point of the Compaſſe. Some men there are whoſe words are full of homonon yes & various acc…ptations, Ier. 9.5.who have taught their tongues to ſpeake ambuiguities, that no man can tell what they ſay; Pſ. 58 2.becauſe he cannot know what they meane. And whoſe actions are full of intricacies and perplexities; like ſome hurtfull beaſts, they love confuſa veſtigia. They weigh the violence of their hands, Pſal. 94.20 foreign 1 Th…ſ 2.5. foreign. 1 Pet. 2.16. foreign. 2 Cor. ….2.that they may be ſure to doe it within compaſſe: So as to have for it a faire pretence; they commit evill artificially and by rule, they frame miſcheife by a Law; they doe nothing but under a cloake of covetouſneſſe or malicionſneſſe; according to the hidden things of diſhoneſty, that men may have nothing directly againſt them, and ſo they wrap it up. Of all this abuſe of parts yee ſhall give an account in that day.
3. Yee ſhall give an account of all that power and authority that God hath given you among the people, and how it hath beene improved by you, to win men unto God, to advance his honour, to countenance holineſſe, and diſcountenance profaneſſe and blaſphemies in the Nation. Yee are not Gods by Condition, but by Commiſſion only: therefore yee muſt rule with God, and for him, it is an evill that proceeds from the Ruler, Miche… 5. Eccleſ. 10.6. Rom. 1 32. Pſal 12.8. Duo fit…t genera cuſlo…om: Al… circuneuat per civitatem quibus eſſe cu…a debet, ne q…il turbetur inter Caves. Alii excabias aguntiun cen bus ut pat…rum, ſit piae…m adver…t ext…num hoſtem. …ud m… …eris obeunt Eccleſiaſlici; hoc eiwlis Wagiſtrattis. Bright… in l.c. Rev. 4….when folly is ſet in great dignity, and the rich ſit in low place; not to honour men according to their worth is evill; but to exalt men for their wickedneſſe is abominable; for the wicked walke on every ſide, when the vileſt men are exalted. Wee reade Cant. 5.7. that the Church of God in her deſertion is evill intreated by two ſorts, that ſhould have ſuccoured her; the Watchmen that gee about the City, ſome interpret the Miniſters, whoſe watch is mainely converſant about thoſe within; for what have wee to dee to judge them them that are without? And the Reepers of the walls; the Magiſtrates, who are to watch for the Church againſt enemies without, for their ſafety, and protection; the Church of God is wounded by the one, and diſgraced by the other; if this uſe be made of power, whether Civill or Eccleſiaſticall, men ſhall ſurely given an account thereof to him who is ready to judge the quicke and dead.
4. Yee ſhall give an account how under your Government Religion hath beene reformed or corrupted. There are in Ordinances different degrees of purity, ſometimes the ſea is of Glaſſe cleere as Chriſtall; Rev 15 2. Rev 16 … Ezech 47.3 4.ſometimes its of glaſſe mixed with fire, and ſometimes it becomes as the bloud of a dead man. And there are different degrees of growth and beauty in Ordinances; ſometimes when the Lord meaſures the waters that iſſue out of the Sanctuary, they are to the knees, and are to the loines, and ſometimes they are but to the ancles. Now Magiſtrates are watchmen, and as their great care ſhould be to keepe God in the Nation; ſo their vigilancy ſhould eſpecially be exerciſed in obſerving by what ſteps the glory of the Lord departs. Ezech. 10 4 18 & 11 23.Therefore the Lord doth exactly ſet downe in Scripture how far Religion was corrupted in every Kings Reigne, and how far that corruption was by authority countenanced; how Jeroboam had his Idolatry, and that unto this were added the ſtatutes of Omri, and the workes of the houſe of Ahab, ſc. Mich. 6.16.in the worſhip of Baal, and they did cauſe the people to walke in their counſells that the Lord might make them a deſolation. And how afterward the women mourned for Tamuz, Ezech. 8.10 11.14 16. Videntur hi 70 fuiſſe Senatores concilii Sanhedrim, erat hic ſummus Iudaeorum Senatus. A Lap. 2 Kin. 10.30, 31, 1 Kin. 15.14.and the ancients of the people worſhipped the Sun, and all ſorts of creeping things; even all the abominations of the Gentiles. And the Lord in Scripture exactly records how far the Reformation went in every Kings reigne; Jehu tooke away the Idolatry of Baal; but yet he retained the Calves. Aſa went far in a Reformation; yet the Lord obſerves, that the high places were not taken away. 2 Cron. 17.6.In the dayes of Jehoſophat the Reformation roſe higher, and he tooke away the high places, and the groves out of Judah. And in Joſias time, when there was the throweſt Reformation that wee reade of in the Scripture; yet the Lord obſerves, that there were remnants of Baal, Zeph. 1, 4, 5, 6.and the Chemarions with the Prieſts, ſome that did worſhip the hoſt of heaven, worſhipping and ſwearing by God and by Malcham; thoſe that turned backe from the Lord, and that ſought not the Lord, nor inquired after him. Its recorded to the diſhonour of the ten Kings; that through their inadvertency, and by their authority, Rev 17.13.17 I … ſed …, p…e…atis …o…in… palliata.they countenanced Popery, and gave their power and their Kingdomes to the beaſt to ſet up that ly. And there is a miſtery of iniquity in all ages, under the forme of godlyneſſe to deſtroy the power, unto which Magiſtrates if they be not very vigilant may eaſily concurre, and of this alſo yee ſhall give an account.
5. Yee ſhall give an account how the publi que juſtice of the Kingdome hath beene adminiſtred. Next unto Gods owne immediate honour, he hath taken care that juſtice be diſpenced betweene man and man; next to holyneſſe he loveth righteouſneſſe and judgement. Pſ 33.5.And this he hath committed into your hands, as he hath put the word into the hands of his Miniſters, and they only in a publique way are to diſpence it in Gods name: So hath he put the ſword into the hands of the Magiſtrates, and as it is Gods word that is preached by the one; ſo it is the juſtice of the Lord, that is executed by the other. Dent. 33.21.This is the way to remove evill from the Nation; then ſtood up Phineas and prayed ſay ſome, Pſ. 106.30. foreign Interpellarit. foreign P…jud…e…rit. Montan, foreign. S…pt. Eſ…y. 1.15.and executed judgement ſay others, (for the originall word will beare both) ſo the plague ceaſed: The beſt prayers of Magiſtrates for the remooving of evill from a Nation are by letting juſtice run downe ſpeedily, and they will ſurely finde that all their prayers are ineffectuall unleſſe this concur with them, the Lord will ſay, when you ſpread out your hands I will hide mine eyes, and when yee make many prayers I will not heare you, for your hands are full of blood. And the beſt way to obtaine bleſſing for the Nation is, I…. 31.23.to make it the habitation of juſtice, and the mountaine of holineſſe. Saul for not executing juſtice had even deſtroyed the Nation; ſo that when David came to the Crowne, he ſaith, the Land is weake, P…l. 75.3.and all the inhabitants thereof are diſſ…lved, I heave up the pillars of it. And the ſpeedieſt meanes to provoke God to execute judgement upon you, is, to deny the execution of judgement upon others. For thus faith the Lord, Ezech. 34.18.19.22.Behold I will judge between Cattell and Cattell, betweene the Rams and the hee Goates. Seemeth it a ſmall thing unto you, to have eaten up the good paſture, but yee muſt tread downe with your feetethe reſidue of your paſtures? And to have drunke of the deepe waters but yee muſt foule the reſidue with your feete? Becauſe yee have thruſt with ſide and with ſhoulder, and puſht all the diſeaſed with your hornes, till yee have ſcattered them abroad: Therefore will I ſave my flocke, and they ſhall be no more a prey, and I will judge betweene Cattell and Cattell, &c.
6. Yee ſhall give an account how the wealth of the Kingdome hath beene expended and imployed. If yee refuſe to do it unto men, (which wee aſſure our ſelves yee will not) there is none can call you to an account here; but there is an account, that yee ſhall all give of it before the Lord. Its recorded for the glory of Joſhua & Zerubbabel, that they emptyed the golden oyle out of themſelves, Zach. 4 12.for to maintaine the Candleſticke. Now for Magiſtrates on the contrary to empty the Candleſticke to fill themſelves, Heb. 2.5. & 1.15.16.to enlarge their deſires as hell, & not be ſatisfied, to take up all with the net, & with the angle, and then to rejoyce becauſe their portion is made fat, and their meate plenteous; Hoſe 12.8.and ſay bleſſed be the Lord, for I am rich, they ſhall, finde no iniquity in mee, will be to their diſhonour for ever. How cunning ſo ever mens contrivances are, yet ſurely the Lord will dilligently ſearch it out, Pſal. 10.14.for he heholds miſchlife and spite to requite it with his hand, he is a God of knowledge, 1 Sam. 2.3.and by him actions are weighed: For all theſe things God will bring you to judgement, when your ſtewardſhip ſhall have an end.
2. As yee ſhall give an account for your ſelves; ſo for thoſe alſo committed unto your charge, and put under your command. Heb 13. ly. Ezech. 3.18.As Miniſters in their places are to watch over mens ſoules, as thoſe that muſt give an account, that if the people dye in their ſins their blood ſhall be required at their hands. So are Magiſtrates ſet over Kingdoms, & Commonwealths, as thoſe that muſt give an account of them that God hath ſubjected to their authority. God many times doth in judgement to a people, Pſ…y 19.4.ſhut them up in the hand of a cruell Lord, and let a fierce King rule over them: Make them the flocke of the ſlaughter, and raiſe up a Shepheard in the Land; who will not viſit thoſe that be cut off, neither ſhall ſeeke the yong, … 11.16.nor heale that which is broken, nor feede that which ſtandeth ſtill: But ſhall eate the fleſh of the fat, and teare the clawes in peecees. Though this be a judgement upon the people, to ſet a Leopard to watch over their Cities; … 34.10. N… …untur … po…us l…bdito…, …d p…o pro pius, q…ae in cu…odia ſubdito… commi…etunt. Aqum. in Ro…. 14.12. V…quiſque reddet rationem de f…t…s al enis q…at… al… rum vita ad no ſt…am cutam …e… tin…, & aliorn… pe…ata ex offic… noſt…i negligentia proveni…. l…ſt. ibid. B…de leg. & conſuerud. Angl. ….yet this people will the Lord require at the Magiſtrates hand. For thus ſaith the Lord God. Behold I am againſt the Shepheards, and I will requir… my flock at their hand, and cauſe them to ceaſe from feeding the flocke, neither ſhall the ſhepheards feede themſelves any more; for I will deliver my flocke from their mouth, that they may not be meate for them, &c. And the accounts of Kingdomes will be dreadfull; for to whom much is given, of them much will be required, and therefore it will be good for you to call your ſelves to an account before hand, and to judge your ſelves ere yee be judged of che Lord. I will conclude this with the ſerious advice of a great Lawyer of our owne; to the Judges of this Nation. Sedem judicandi quae eſt quaſi Thronus Dei non preſumat quis aſcendere inſipiens & indoctus ne lucem ponat in tenebras & tenebras in lucem; & ne in manu indocta, modo furientis gladio feriat innocentem, & liberet nocentem, &c. Sitting in the ſeate of Judicature; he doe not judge contra leges, prece vel pretio, leſt he be himſelfe judged by him, who hath ſaid vengeance is mine, and I will repay; and with him there is no reſpect of perſons.
Now that you may behave your ſelves as good Stewards, and be able at the end of your ſhewardſhips to give a good account, I ſhall with all humility ſet before you theſe ſix directions and conclude.
Firſt, make no private advantage of any publique Truſt. Build not your houſes upon the Kingdomes ruines; if you doe, they will not ſtand; for the foundation is laid in a curſe, and that which is gathered of the Hire of an Harlot, Mich. 17. Prove… b…aliter loquitur, hoc rediturum ad mer…dem l…orti, hoc eſt, in nihilum quia Dominus talibus divitiis malediect ideoque in funum ſtatimi abire neceſſe eſt, Cal. Eccleſ. 9.15. Mar. 10.29.30.ſhall returne to the Hire of an Harlot. I confeſſe men pay ill and reward their beſt ſervants, for their greateſt ſervices but with forgetfulneſſe and diſregard. But there is a reward that comes from God only; there is no man that denyes himſelfe in any thing, whether Father or Mother, Wife or Children, Houſe or Land… for Chriſt: But the promiſe is, he ſhall have an hundred fold more in this life, and in the world to come eternall life. And ſurely Heaven Will make amends for all your ſervices. I am perſwaded God hath given many of you ſuch Heroicall, and Princely ſpirits, that you would not for all the world in this reſpect, have your glorying made voyd. And if any ſhall doe otherwiſe: They will get to themſelves a blot, a wound, and a diſhonour, that will never be wiped off. Surely in maximafortun… minima eſt licentia, that may be lawfull for other men, that for you may not be expedient. It may befit the common ſouldiers to be ſcrambling for the ſpoile; but it will not be honourable for the Commanders, who ſhould rather ſay, as Themiſtocles did after a great victory wonne againſt the Perſians, walking up and downe among the ſlaine, and ſeeing many agreat …ooty, which he diſdained to ſtoope for; but calling to them that ſtood by, ſaid, T…e hec … qui Th…miſt…cles …. Ammia…. Mar…l. l. 30. foreign Et involaſt… ad ſpolium Sh…dl. Luc. 12.42.It is recorded to S…s eternall diſgrace after his victory againſt Amalecke, that he did fly upon the spoile. 1 Sam. 15.19.
Secondly, give every one in the Family his pertion i… d… ſeaſon. Let Juſtice be as common as the Ayre wee breath in. Eccleſ. 4.1.Now to heare the cryes of the oppre…ed that have no Comforter; would … to praiſe the dead that are already dead, …leſ 4.1.rather then the living that are yet alive. It may be juſtice may be done (where a publique advantage may come in another way) upon men that have no great relation to ſome in high place; but if they have any of theſe references, be the perſon never ſo vile, be the matter never ſo foule, he ſhall finde friends to plead his cauſe, and juſtice againſt ſuch an one ſhall finde many a ſtop. Briſſ… de for…. …. 3.Conſtantine's Edict would befit a Parliament in this reſpect; who publiſhed to the people. If any of my Friends, Courtiers, Servants, have wronged any man, let him come to me without feare, and I will not only right him, but reward him. Oh what account will Magiſtrates give in this particular, for honouring friends, above juſtice, and above God?
Thirdly, nouriſh not diviſions and parties in the Family; which is a great evill in a Steward. Quia tempub. fu…ent …leiunt & par …es …. Tarn. in Z…ph. 3.6. foreign, &c. Na…n. orat. 21.Zach. 10.2. You are called the corner which joynes the building, and by joyning ſtrengthens it. It was Athanaſius his honour to be percutient bus Adamas, & diſſentientibus Magne…. God hath honoured you in the one, the Lord grant yee may be like him in the other. For your differences will occaſion, or at leaſt foment diviſions in the whole Kingdome. Bleſſed be God, our breach is not ſo great, with thoſe that agree with us in matters of Doctrine; but that a little love would cover it, doe not you widen it. Wee have the example of Chriſt who hath therein left us a copie to write after. He cared not for giving offence in matters of Piety. When they told him the Phariſies were offended at him, he anſwered, Math. 15.14.let them alou…, they be blind leaders of the blind. Yet he was very carefull, not to give offence in matters of liberty, Math. 17.29.he payes tribute though it were not due, leſt he ſhould offend them. It was a juſt reproofe that the Marriners gave to the Phyloſopher in a ſtorme, propounding queſtions of no moment, …. l. 1. c. 2.foreign while wee are ſinking thou art trifling.
And wee may well apply it to our ſelves. Wee are wrangling about curioſities, when this and the neighbouring Kingdome are periſhing. And it may juſtly provoke the Lord to give us up into the hands of our enmies to bring us to an accord. And if I may have liberty to profeſſe my feares, I feare our preſent diviſions may make way for the ſaddeſt perfecution that ever was knowne in England. For Chriſt ſhall have the bittereſt enemies in the laſt dayes. The fourth beaſt is divers from all thoſe that were before it, exceeding dreadfull, his teeth of iron, and his nailes braſſe which devoured and brake in peeces, and ſtamped the reſidue with his feete. Dan. 7.19.The Witneſſes that did formerly propheſie in ſackcloth and aſhes, Rev. 11.3.….an expreſſion of an afflicted and ſuffering condition; in the latter dayes they ſhall be ſlaine, and their dead bodies caſt out, and not allowed a buriall, the moſt barbarous inhumanity.
And this bitter emnity ſhall be coloured over with the greateſt ſhewes of holineſſe: Antichriſt fights againſt Chriſt under his own banner; he is compared to a whore, whoſe lips drop as the honycombe, Rev. 17.4.and ſhe gives the wine of her fornication in a golden cup; under ſo much flattery and ſhew of love and profeſſion of zeale for Chriſt; that many an honeſt and plaine hearted man, who have not knowne the depths of Satan, may be blinded with ſuch deluſions, and may put forth their hand in the perſecution with ſcorners. Satan can creepe into Peter, and for a private end, cauſe him to diſſemble, and then Barnabas alſo may be carried away by the ſame diſſimulation.
Fourthly, uſe your Authority to engage the Saints to you; who are the beſt of the Family, and in them your ſtrength lyes. Zach. 1….5.Take heede how you grieve them, that you doe not foreign 1 Cor. 8.1…. Verberare. Percutere. M…. Vulnerare. T…m.which are the ſharpeſt ſtroakes, and the deepeſt wounds. It had beene but to little purpoſe for Joſhua to have fought in the Valley; had not Moſes his hands beene lifted up upon the Mountaine; and the ſucceſſe varies not according to Joſhua's fighting, but Moſes praying. Revel. 8.5. Judgements are executed upon the enemies by coales that are taken from the Incenſe Altar, and are poured out in the ſame Cenſer, in which the prayers of the Saints were offred. And from thence came the earthquake, the thunderings, lightnings, and voices. Take heede of diſobliging the Saints in truth (I ſpeake not for any that doe proudly appropriate to themſelves the name) loſing their hearts, and their prayers, and all this for matters circumſtantiall wherein our owne light is not fully cleere. Indeed there will come a time when Ezekiels Temple ſhall be built, and the Lord will ſhew his people the Paterne of his Houſe, and all the formes of it. When New Jeruſalem ſhall be built upon the foundation of the Apoſtles Doctrine, Rev. 21.14.and men ſhall cleerely ſee how every thing is grounded thereupon: But meane while, agreeing in fundamentalls, till the Lord cleere theſe things to us, wee ſhould pity on another, pray one for another, as comming all forth ex eodem utore ignorantia.Tertul.
Fiftly, improve your Authority to perfect the Reformation begun. Take care of your Maſters goods; loſe not what is already wrought: Hoſe. 13 13.Doe not with Ephraim as an unwiſe ſtay long in the place of the breaking forth of children: Yet thinke not that wee are already perfect; looke unto that paterne which the Lord hath ſet forth in the latter dayes, and ſee how far wee come ſhort, 2 Kin 13.18.19.and let us preſſe hard unto that marke: to be content with low things, is an Argument of low ſpirit, and to write a nil ultra upon every new degree attained. … 6.10.The Church indeed in this world will be only faire as the Moone, which hath ſome ſpots, and is not perfectly inlightened: Yet let us ſet before us the pureſt paterne, and ſtrive to it.
In this laſt Church. 1. The Doctrine of Chriſt ſhall be preached with ſo much evidence that all men ſhall be convinced, in compariſon of the light that now is: it ſhall be as the light of the Sun, which only makes it day. Eſay. 31.26.2. The Ordinances ſhall be pure without all humane mixtures and contributions; the Temple and all things therein ſhall be meaſured by the golden reede of the word, Rev. 21 15 16.and Jehovah ſhall be one, and the uncleane ſpirit with the falſe Prophet ſhall paſſe out of the Land.Zach. 13.2. & 14.9. 3. The members of this Church ſhall be holy,Eſay. 54.11.12. the foundation ſhall be layd of Saphires, the windowes of Agates, the gates of Carbuncles: There ſhall be no foreign there, Rev. 22.3.by reaſon of holyneſſe, no neede of putting cenſures in execution; for they ſhall write upon the bells of the horſes holineſſe to the Lord: Zach. 14 20.21.And every pot in Jeruſalem and Judah ſhall be holineſſe to the Lord: And in that day there ſhall be no more the Canaanite in the houſe of the Lord of Hoſts. And there ſhall be ſuch a ſpirit of diſcerning, that only open and prophane men ſhall be without, but alſo every one that loves and makes a lye.Rev. 22.15.
4. From theſe Ordinances there ſhall be abundance of Converts, for the more purity the more power. When the waters ſhall iſhue out of Ezechiels Temple, every thing ſhall love where they come, and the fiſh ſhall be as the fiſh of the great ſea exceeding many.Eſech. 47 9.
5. Their Communion with God ſhall be glorious, and full of evidence: The glory of the Lord, and of the Lambe ſhall be to them, Rev. 21 23.as the Sun in the Firmament, a conſtant and a perfect Light, (for the more of Gods order the more of his preſence) the name of the City ſhall be Jehovah Shamah, the Lord is there.Ezech. 48.35.
6. There ſhall be a perfect and ſweet Communion one with another; as Communion with God growes; ſo doth the Communion of Saints grow; the neerer the lives are to the Center, the neerer they come one to another. All diviſions ſhall be taken away about the wayes of worſhip, Jehovah ſhall be one, and his name one, Zach 14.9.they ſhall glorifie God with one minde, and one mouth, ſerve the the Lord with one ſhoulder. Zeph. 3.9.Bleſſe God for the Reformation begun, and ſtrive to perfection: Alwayes have an eye unto this paterne, and ſo far as yee come ſhort; ſo much is wanting of that pitch, that the Lord hath ſet forth as attainable in this life.
Sixtly, follow your imployments as Magiſtrates, yet ſo as you neglect not your duty as private Chriſtians: Make uſe of all for your ſpirituall and eternall good; that being faithfull in that which is another mans, God may give you that which is your owne. Conſider your ſelves to be Stewards, and make your accounts even day by day; & when you come from judging publiquely; then judge your ſelves in ſecret before a higher Trybunall then your owne, that you may give an account with joy, and not with griefe in the end. Thinke of your Honour ſo, that you forget not your Office, yee are but Stewards: So rejoyce in your Office, that you remember your end: Yee ſhall not be alwaies Stewards. So glory in your receipts, and exaltations, that you forget not the account of your ſtewardſhip. And this (in the name of the Lord who hath given to his Miniſters great liberty of ſpeech) I charge you before God, and the Elect Angels, and before Jeſus Chriſt, who ſhall judge quicke and dead, at his appearing, and in his Kingdome. So this ſhall be a joyfull voice to you: Give an Account of your Stewardſhip, for yee may be no longer Stewards.
FINIS.
End of the text · William Strong, The Trust and the Account of a Steward (1647)