Sermon Before the General Assembly of Connecticut, Sermon · Application 3

Sermon Before the General Assembly of Connecticut · Sermon · Application 3

p. 51USE. III. Of Exhortation.

In two Branches.

1. To ſuch as are, or may this day be Elected and Eſtabliſhed the Civil Rulers of this People. You ſee (Honoured and much Eſteemed) wherein you may be Rich Bleſſings. As it is our duty inceſſantly to pray God that you may be ſo, ſo alſo we ſubmiſſively pray you that you would be ſo. Be you therefore intreated (whoſoever you are, upon whom the over ruling Hand of the Lord ſhall order the Lot to fall this day) to approve your ſelves Strong Rods. Eſteem this to be your greateſt Glory; the contrary to this will be both your & our Ruin. Let the Qualifications which have at this p. 52time been deſcribed to you, be exemplified in all your managements; that our own Experience may teach us the happineſs of a People, who are in ſuch a caſe, who have Strong Rods for a Scepter to rule them. Your Ability is under God our ſtrength; your Fidelity, our Security: If theſe Foundations are deſtroyed what ſhall the Righteous do? Pſal. 11.3. If theſe Foundations are out of courſe, nothing will go right, or ſtand long among us. It is a great Truſt which is this day to be committed to you; your Advantages hereupon to do much for the Glory of God among his People, by going before them, and leading them in the way of the Lord, are very Eminent: And God hath anſwerable Expectations concerning you; you may be for a Name and a Praiſe unto him; (and we may be ſo too, by God's bleſſing on your Conduct.) This God expects; and this is the Hope and Prayer of ſuch as fear the Lord among us. You have our hearty Wiſhes that God would be with you, as he hath been with thoſe that are gone before you: That you may be as the Mountains that bring Peace, and as the Hills that produce Righteouſneſs to his People: That your Wiſdom, Juſtice, Courage, Piety, may be the ſafeguard of our Land, and the Stability of our Times: Theſe are the things, which duely improved, will make you Rich Bleſſings. Be intreated therefore to ſhine in the Improvement of them. The Lord hath ſaid, Ye are Gods, Pſal. 82.6. Let theſe Virtues appear, as inſeperable Properties of your Deity: If p. 53you lack theſe things, you cannot ſtand, and we muſt fall. I might remember you of many particulars by way of Motive. As,

1. You have the Care and Charge of a People whom God hath by ſpecial Favour, taken to be his own Peculiar. And ſuch a Truſt as this ought to be ſtrenuouſly & faithfully diſcharged. The Lord our God hath by ſignal Protections, and a ſtretched out Arm, made theſe (once dark) corners of the earth a place of comfortable Entertainment to a Remnant of his faithful Servants, and their Seed: Here he hath intruſted us with the choiſe Mercies of his Word & Ordinances; we have had them & enjoyed them, in ſafety from all the Endeavours of ſuch, as with an envious eye and vexed Soul, have beheld what God hath been doing for us; and though we have ſadly proved our ſelves ungrateful, backſliding Children, untrue to the Intereſt of the Goſpel, and Kingdom of Chriſt among us: yet Oh! how are Covenant Mercies prolonged to us? and how great are the Covenant Engagements and Obligations, that we are continued under to this Day? And what is the Lords end in all this, but that we ſhould be holineſs unto him? What doth God deſign, but that we ſhould ſhew forth his Praiſes, who hath thus crowned us? What doth the Lord look for from us, but ſuch fruit as this? And, the Honour God puts upon you, whom he makes the Rulers of his People, the Authority which he doth veſt you with, is with Subſerviency to this end. God hath deſigned the p. 54Civil Government of his People, to concenter with Eccleſiaſtical Adminiſtrations: and (though by different Mediums) they are both levelled at the ſame end; the maintaining of Piety, and promoting of a Covenant walk with him. That which is the Lords Aim in this, ſhould be yours alſo; all your Conducts ſhould center here. This is the work that belongs to you in your Publick Capacities; and it calls for your Wiſdom and Juſtice, and Zeal and Holineſs; if you would be found thus ruling with God, and faithful with his Saints. Hoſea 11.12.

2. Again. Do not thoſe palpable Declenſions from the way of the Lord, and Covenant Violations which we are manifeſtly guilty of, loudly proclaim it neceſſary for you to beſtir your ſelves with a holy Prudence, and Zeal for the Cauſe of God among us? Oh! how juſtly may the Lord complain of us, that we are become the degenerate Plane of a ſtrange Vine unto him? Where is that Zeal for God and his ways? that high eſteem of Goſpel Priviledges; that faithful improvement of Sacred Ordinances; that Gate & Concernment for the Advancing of the Kingdom of Chriſt? which things were once our praiſe. Are not theſe great Intereſts miſerably diſregarded? And Oh! what Irreligion, Lukewarmneſs, Prophaneſs, and Immoralities, have uſurped their Room? And doth not the Lord expect that the Leaders of his People ſhould be their Reformers? You have great Examples, the Royal Preſidents of Jehoſaphat, Hezekiah, Joſiah, famous p. 55in this matter, accepted and bleſſed of the Lord. Let this then be your great Care, to recover us a ſinful ſinning People, from all our Apoſtaſies. And Oh! how much may you do, by your Wiſdom & Piety, Zeal and Juſtice, Precept and Example, Authority and Awe, to awaken us, and recover us again to the good wayes of God? The Good Lord ſtrengthen you yet more and more in all your endeavours for this; and think upon you, according to all that you have done, and ſhall ſtill be doing for his People.

3. Further. Hath not the Lord himſelf been coming near to Judgment! and pleading with and againſt his People? It is obvious that God hath a Controverſy with us, and He is wrath with his Inheritance. The tender mercy of God indeed doth ſpare us to this day, many good and pleaſant things; yet in divers reſpects, God hath been and is humbling us, and bringing us low. Tho we may with thankful Admiration at the Divine Goodneſs; ſay as the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 78.38. (concerning the Lords Diſpenſations towards us) Many a time turned He his anger away, and did not ſtir up all his wrath; yet if we conſider the Blood…ſhed, and ruinous Devaſtations in ſome Places o… this Land, together with the languiſhing State o… the whole Country at this Day, we may alſo take up the Pſalmiſts complaint, Pſal. 80.5. And ſay, Thou feedeſt us with the Bread of Tears, and gi…veſt us Tears to drink without meaſure. I ſhall no… need to mention thoſe various Rebukes of Provi…dence, p. 56(as Blaſtings and Mildews, Droughts, Unſeaſonable Froſts of late, Sickneſs, & the Sword) which you have ſo often, in your Orders for Publick Humiliation, piouſly directed us to take notice of, as Tokens of the Lords Anger; ſurely by theſe Providences God hath been loudly teſtifying againſt our Tranſgreſſions: And we may read in them, that of the Prophet. Jer. 5.25. Your Sins have withholden good things from you. We have a caſe fit and proper for us under our preſent Circumſtances to propound and conſider, ſtated and reſolved to our hand, in Deut 29.23, 24. Wherefore hath the Lord done thus unto this Land, what meaneth the Heat of this great Anger? Then men ſhall ſay, becauſe they have forſaken the Covenant of the Lord God of their Fathers. And if this be a Day wherein the Lord is coming out againſt us in Judgment; Oh! How ſhould you that are the Lords Subſtitutes bear witneſs in your places againſt the Tranſgreſſions which provoke him? If you are thus a Terrour to Evil Doers, it may be God will do no more terrible things in Judgment againſt us: If you do wiſely and courageouſly Execute Judgment, who knows but it may divert the Lords. Phinehas did ſo, and the Plague was ſtayed, Pſal 106 30.

4 You do ordinarily (I ſuppoſe I may ſay conſtantly) bring your ſelves under the Sacred Bond of a Solemn Oath, with impartiality & fidelity to diſcharge the Trust committed to you, and ſo Rule this People according to the Laws of God, and the King; than p. 57which nothing can be a ſtricter tie to thoſe that know and believe, that the ſame God, whom they have thus called upon to be a witneſs of the ſincerity and integrity of their hearts, in what they are undertaking; will, if they be either careleſs or falſe, not ſuffer them to eſcape his Righteous Judgment, and moſt ſevere Reflections.

5. Shall I add this one conſideration further, (both to ſtir you up to, and ſtrengthen you in your publick work:) It is this; You have the Royal Favour of a moſt Gracious Soveraign, whom the Divine Providence hath in a wonderful manner raiſed up, and hitherto preſerved, to be the Bulwark of Religion and Property, to the Engliſh Iſrael: We are a little Branch of that Vine; our Civil Life and Liberty is bound up in theirs; we have felt the warmth of thoſe benign Influences, which have refreſhed the wearied Land of our Fore fathers Sepulchres; and as the Prophet Ezekiel ſpeaks, chap. 34.27. God hath broken the Bands of the Yoke that were upon us, and delivered us out of the Hands of thoſe that would have ſerved themſelves of us. God who hath the Hearts of Princes in his Hand, hath (whatever our Enemies have endeavoured to the contrary) given you Favour in the ſight of the King: You have in this reſpect great opportunity and advantage to be conſulting and promoting the things which will be for the Glory of God, the Intereſt of his Kingdom, and the Weal of his People: According as it is improved▪ we may hope God will prolong it; He will not p. 58take it well at our hands if it be neglected. Give me leave then to ſay, to you that are, or may this Day be Rulers over us, as once it was ſaid to Ezra, chap. 10.4. This matter belongeth unto you: It is your part principally to take care for the Improvement of ſuch an Opportunity, and ours to be with you in it. When the Lord by whom Princes rule, maketh them Nurſing Fathers to his People, it openeth a wide door of Liberty and Power, to all that derive Authority from them to be in their reſpective places, Rods of Strength, for defending and encouraging the Good, for ſuppreſ…ng and puniſhing the Wicked, for promoting Piety and Righteouſneſs; and if there be an heart wanting to improve ſuch an advantage, we may probably repent it, when we can do nothing elſe.

Suffer then the Exhortation, I beſeech you in the words of the Lord, which you have in Hag. 2.4. Be ſtrong O Zerubbabel and work: Do the work of your publick Capacities, with Prudence, Honour and Fidelity: I am with you ſaith the Lord of Hoſts. Thus if you approve your ſelves, it will be Honour to God, your Comfort, our Weal, and the rejoycing of all that love God & his People.

There are a few things, which I would crave your Patience (Honoured and much Reſpected) that I may briefly recommend unto you; as needful to be much in your Eyes, and upon your Hearts, if you would thus acquit your ſelves; & be Strong Rods to us at ſuch a Day as this.

p. 591. Let the Intereſt of Religion and Holineſs, be your principal care: Labour the reviving and promoting of it with all your ſtrength. This is both our Decus & Tutamen; we may truly ſay of this great Article, that it is, Articulus ſtantis et cadentis Nov. Angliae. It is this that engageth the Lord to deal graciouſly with his people, and to be their Saviour▪ in Iſa. 63.7. When the Church had reckoned up the Loving-kindneſſes of God, many ways expreſſed; we have in the following verſe the conſideration intimated, upon which the Lord proceeded in doing thoſe great things for his people, verſe 8. For he ſaid, ſurely they are my People, Children that will not lie, ſo he was their Saviour; q. d. They will not be falſe to my Covenant, they will walk in my ways, and keep my Commandments, they will remember their Engagements and fulfil them; and upon their ſo doing, he had and would ſhew them his Salvation. In this way they might hope for it; but if they ſhould prove lying, unholy, backſliding Children, they would but deceive themſelves to expect it. Upon this ground hath the Lord been proceeding with our Fathers in time paſt; and upon the ſame will he deal with us at this Day. If we conſider the things that were at the beginning, when God firſt laid the Foundations of Goſpel work in theſe Ends of the Earth; if we remember the Wonders of old, which we have heard, and our Fathers have told us; we may ſay of thoſe Providences, whereby God through p. 60many Difficulties, brought a Remnant of his faithful People into theſe remote corners of the World, planted and preſerved them here, as David doth, Pſal. 44.7. That the Lord did it; By his Righthand, &c. becauſe he had a favour for them. By great Deliverances and Salvations did the Lord manifeſt his Preſence among them, and Loving-kindneſs to them: and they were all upon this account▪ Pſal 22.4. Our Fathers truſted in thee; they truſted, and thou didſt deliver them. They had Holineſs to the Lord Engraven upon their hearts, deſigns, and ways, and God was with them. If we are true to this Intereſt and Cauſe of God, and walk in the Covenant of the Lord God of our Fathers, it ſhall be well with us. Exod. 20.6. But if there be a declining, backſliding, apoſtatizing Spirit in us; if we give the Lord cauſe to take up that Complaint concerning us, in Mal. 3.7. Even from the dayes of your Fathers, ye are gone away from mine Ordinances, and have not kept them. Oh! what Preſumption, what Madneſs will it be for us to hope, that as he was theirs, ſo he will be our Saviour. Alas! How many are there that have forgotten & forſaken this great Intereſt of the Lord among us? Be you intreated therefore (who ſhall have the rule of this People) to conſider it, and engage your hearts to the advancing of it. Remember that there is a Solemn Covenant between God & this his People; God hath taken them to be his, & they have owned themſelves to be the Lords; upon this Foundation ſtand all our p. 61Mercies, Priviledges, Enjoyments, & whatſoever can contribute any thing to our preſent or future Felicity: and therefore the recovering of us from all our Apoſtaſies, and the maintaining & promoting of ſerious Godlineſs among us, ſhould & will be the chief Scope of ſuch Rulers, as make Conſcience to Serve either God, or his People.

2. Expreſs a high Veneration for, and Regard unto Gods holy Ordinances. Let them have all that Security from the Blaſphemous Reproaches, and Abuſes of Ungodly men, that either your Laws, or your Examples can afford them. If they that go before a People go out of this way, ſad Experience proves it but too natural a practice for them to follow their Leaders. So Jeroboam the ſon of Nebat made Iſrael to Sin. 1 King. 16 26. He led the Dance and he had the far greateſt part of a Nation to follow him. If you dont make much of theſe things, others will make light of them: If you violate in never ſo ſmall a Degree the Honour of Sacred things, others will be kept within no Bounds: it will be encouragement enough to them, if they have any hope to be tolerated in their prophaneſs; but it will be much more, if they have ſuch as ſhould puniſh it for a Preſident.

3. Labour to ſettle prudent Methods for the tranſmitting of the publick Goſpel Worſhip unto the Riſing Generation, upon as firm and laſting Foundations as may be. There is nothing in the World, that we ought to be more concerned to leave to Poſterity. If any thing in order to this, may be done by the p. 62Legiſlative Power among us (which I ſubmit to your moſt ſerious conſideration) we may be ſure it will be a good Improvement of it. We ſhall never loſe by what we lay out for that Intereſt of Chriſt's Kingdom; but the ſtarving of this Intereſt, hath brought a Curſe upon a People. Mal. 3.9, 10, 11, 12. And becauſe many of the Paſſages in this Text do ſo directly point at many of the Lords humbling Diſpenſations towards us, I cannot but mention it at large, Ye are Curſed with a Curſe, for you have robbed me, even this whole Nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the ſtore-houſe, that there may be meat in mine houſe, & prove me now herewith, ſaith the Lord of hoſts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven▪ & pour you out a bleſſing, that there ſhall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your ſakes: & he ſhall not deſtroy the fruits of your ground, neither ſhall your vine caſt her fruit before the time in the field, ſaith the Lord of hosts. And all Nations ſhall call you bleſſed: for ye ſhall be a delightſome land, ſaith the Lord of hoſts. Whatever Policy was in it, it was one of Jeroboams Sins. 1 King. 13.33, 34. That he took of the loweſt of the People, and made them Prieſts: And certainly it will be found a Sin too, when a courſe is taken to make thoſe that are ſeparated to the Service of God, the meaneſt among a People. To prevent which, tho' ſome things may have been worthily done, yet it is well worthy our Conſideration, whether the Experience we have had of the unſuccesfulneſs of thoſe meaſures that have been p. 63already taken, doth not call for ſomething farther to be done: And the ſad paſs things of this nature are already come to in ſome places, doth awaken to as quick a diſpatch as may be. How long the price (the Liberty & Authority for this) which you now have, will be in your hands, the Lord only knoweth: And beſides, when things are once going down hill, the further they go, the harder it is to ſtop them. We may rationally look that if what is amiſs in a matter of ſo great Concernment as this, both to our ſelves and ours, be not rectified ſpeedily, it will grow worſe and worſe, and be beyond all Remedy at laſt.

4. Be a ſwift witneſs againſt the Crying Sins and fearful Abominations that Defile the Land. When the Providence of God hath brought ſuch wickedneſs to Light, let it not be ſmoothered, but brought out to condign Puniſhment. You are God's Vicegerents, and ſhould in this Imitate him, who ſaith, Mal. 3.5. I will be a ſwift witneſs againſt the Sorcerers, and againſt the Adulterers, and againſt falſe Swearers, &c. The Lord hath ſet you up to be a Terrour to Evil Doers; conſider then upon what account God hath a Controverſy with the Inhabitants of the Land. Let not your Eye pity, nor your Hand ſpare thoſe that dare declare their Sin as Sodom, when the Land is mourning becauſe of the Iniquities that abound in it. There is (to mention a few things) Idleneſs, Pride, Falſhood, Contention, Backbiting and Slander, Prophanation of Gods Sacred Name, and Holy Day, Uncleanneſs, Unrighteouſneſs, p. 64either by Fraud or Force, in our common dealings one with another: Drunkenneſs, and the propagating of that Sin (for filthy Lucres ſake) among the Heathen, who are therefore juſtly the Rod of Gods Anger againſt us at this Day; Are not theſe ſome of our crying Sins? They are Sins which God hath often warned us of, long humbled us for; yea, and for theſe, is not the Hand of the Lord ſtretched our againſt us ſtill? For the Lords ſake therefore, for your own ſakes, and for ours, Do you that have the Sword of Juſtice in your Hands, ſtrike at, and ſpare not theſe Tranſgreſſions: Let the wholeſome Laws already provided againſt them be fearleſly. Executed; & if need be, let ſtricter be made; let every thing be done that can be done, to root out this Wickedneſs.

5. In matters of Judgment, or reſpecting the Adminiſtration of Juſtice; be not eaſy in crediting Reports, eſpecially when they are made out of Place, Order, and Seaſon. The ſimple ſaith Solomon, believeth every word, but the Prudent man looketh well to his going. Prov. 14.15. The Judgment may eaſily be foreſtalled. Prov. 18.17. He that is firſt in his own Cauſe ſeemeth juſt. It is no hard matter to contrive a fair Tale, and to make that ſeem juſt, which is very unrighteous; but it behooves therefore ſuch as ſit in Judgment, e're they credit it, to ſearch it out. It is the Honour of a King to ſearch out a matter. Prov. 25.2. And Prudence to ſift out and diſcover the Truth, (if there be but a p. 65Conſcience to judge accordingly) will be found the Ornament and Glory of thoſe that are upon the Seat of Juſtice.

6. Be impartially juſt to all that have occaſion to ſeek for Juſtice at your Hands. When you have heard the Cauſe, judge according to the merit of it. Remember what the Pſalmiſt ſaith, Pſal. 75.2. When I ſhall receive the Congregation, I will judge uprightly. None have (ordinarily) more or greater Temptations to Injuſtice, than thoſe that have the diſpenſing of Juſtice in their hands; avoid them carefully. Theſe ſnares are ſome of them more obvious, and can take none but ſuch as are willing to be caught; ſome are more out of view, and therefore moſt to be feared and watch'd againſt, by thoſe that have a Principle of Juſtice in them. There's a ſort of Bribery more groſs by gifts; & there's another ſort more private & ſubtil, when men by ſecret arts and flatteries do wheedle and inſinuate themſelves into the Affections; which, whenſoever it takes, is as great a diſhonour to the Dignity of Magiſtracy, and tends as much to the corruption of Judgment, and perverting of Juſtice and Right, as any. By this means, a man may for leſs than a piece of Bread, buy Injuſtice enough to ſtarve and ruin his honeſt Neighbour. Again, there are ſome, who would perhaps baulk at the groſſer Temptations of Flattery or Bribery, who may be unawares ſnared by others; and do very unjuſtly, when they are far from ſuſpecting it. They may be p. 66readily drawn away, to decline after many to wreſt Judgment, which we are warned againſt. Exod. 23 2. They may be too eaſily moved in their Affections, and ready to ſhew Indulgence to Offenders, when it conſiſts neither with Piety, nor Juſtice. But, Remember always; that with you there ought to be no ſuch reſpect of Perſons. Prov. 24.23. Be deaf to the cries of the Pooreſt, when they can't be heard without wrong to Juſtice: and regard not the Clamours of the Mighty to the prejudice of Truth.

7. In animadverting upon Offences committed againſt good and wholeſome Laws, hold a ſteady courſe of Puniſhment: To neglect which, makes the Timorous grow ventureſome and preſumptuous, & the preſumptuous grow more fearleſs. I ſhall not diſpute how far it may be lawful for Rulers to pardon Offenders; it is but ſeldom that Subjects have reaſon to complain upon this ſcore; the Severity of Rulers, not their Lenity is moſtly blamed: Yet it cannot be denied, but that when the Powers that are, do degenerate into a coldneſs and remiſsneſs in puniſhing Delinquents; into an eaſineſs of bearing with inſolent & proud Offenders; it giveth as deep, not to ſay, a deeper wound to the Weal of the State, than an exceſs on the other hand would. It is a mighty diſcouragement to the well willing and obedient, when they ſee thoſe that trample upon the Laws, eſcaping the penalty of them; it, alſo hardens the Diſobedient and Rebellious; the hope of eſcaping will make men venture; and at p. 67length they will grow to ſuch an height of In…lence, as will not be contented with any thing … than trampling upon the Authority that hath … attempted, or ſhall attempt to curb them. It … well ſaid by Seneca of a Prince, Paenam, ſi tuto … terit, donet. i.e. If he can do it not only with his … private, but with the publick ſafety alſo. It oug… to be conſidered in the pardoning of Offender, that one main end of the Law is, Salus Populi, … Publick Good; which lieth chiefly in preſervi… the Authority of the Laws, preventing Injuri… and ſecuring mens Rights, as alſo in vindicati… of his or their Dignity and Honour, who … care of the Common-Weal; and where that … may in theſe ways be promoted withal, it … not be unmeet that Lenity ſhould be exerciſ… ▪ But to pardon Offences, purely out of hope … win Offenders, (which is the faireſt pretenc… imprudent men) without conſidering whether Publick will not ſuſtain more damage other … than it can be profited by t…e amendment of … Offenders, if they ſhould chance to be wor… very abſurd and fooliſh.

8. Do your utmoſt to remove every thing that … the appearance of Deceit and Falſhood in it, as … it is poſſible, from all Affairs pertaining to the Ad…ſtration of Juſtice. It is a ſad thing, when … comes a Ruled Caſe with thoſe that have too in ſuch Pleadings as are proper for Courts …, that it is but a venial matter, to aver … thing, be it never ſo wrong, if they can but … p. 68…ſerve the Cauſe which they have undertaken. …nd when ſuch as are paid for their ſpeaking, are … baſely mercinary, as to ſpeak more according … their Fee, than their Conſciences; it is a horrid …ctice, not to be tolerated by ſuch whoſe buſi…ſs it is to ſearch the matter, and diſcover the …uth. Theſe ought to be frown'd upon, and …ers countenanced. Prov. 16.13. Righteous Lips … the delight of Kings, and they love him that ſpea…h right. They that croud in their Opinions, … colour of being Amici Curiae, are no ways … be allowed of, if they notoriouſly appear to be …ſtitiae Inimici. If ſilence be but a moderate Pe…ce to be Enjoyned thoſe that have not wit e…ugh to ſpeak to the Caſe: Cer…inly, it is as … and fitting for thoſe that have not honeſty e…gh to ſpeak the truth in it. And if wiſe men … have patience enough to bear with the folly … the former; yet good Rulers ſhould have more …nſcience than to bear with the wickedneſs of … latter.

…. Conſult the Honour of Government and maintain … There are few things that do more conduce …he good of a Common Weal. It was a cala…ous Day in Iſrael mentioned, Iſa. 3.5. when … Baſe roſe up againſt the Honourable. And …as a time when they had no Strong Rods to … them; when ſuch abuſes as theſe are not … reflected upon, the very Authors of them … fault with it. For when they intrench upon … Honour of Authority, they know it is a Miſdemeanour, p. 69which may not be tolerated; they know themſelves blame worthy enough, but they ſecretly think alſo, that you who ſhould puniſh ſuch intolerable Injuries to the Publick are more to blame in ſuffering them to eſcape unpuniſhed And it may be they are not herein much miſta…ken. Well, Let them never have occaſion fo… ſuch a Calumny; keep a ſtrict hand over them eaſy methods were never calculated for ſuch un…grateful turbulent Spirits; Peri… quod facis Ingrat… All Gentleneſs is utterly loſt upon them.

10. When any Publick Truſt is committed to other that are in Inferiour Places of Power, ſee to them tha… they do their Duty faithfully. Their Neglects an… Male doings are among men commonly charge… to your Account, who ſit …, and have the ad…vantage of inſpecting and ſeeing that things ar… carried in a right Channel: And indeed, the… will be reputed yours in the ſight of God too; … through careleſsneſs you don't look after them, … through Favour wink at them.

11. Arm your ſelves with Courage. Think ofte… of Davids words to Solomon. 1 King. 2.2. Be tho… strong, and ſhew thy ſelf a man: And of Jehoſapha… Charge to his Judges. 2 Chron. 19.11. Deal Cour…giouſly. To rule over men in the Fear of God is a work that will meet with no ſlender oppoſ…tion. You muſt expect to have to do with Sons … Belial; and the man that toucheth them muſt … fenced with Iron, and the Staff of a Spear (we appointed & fearleſs.) Whatever Difficulties the… p. 70… attending this work, yet it is the Lords; and …ch as he calls to Execute it, muſt neither ſhrink …ack for them, or turn aſide in the leaſt. Every Common Wealth will have ſome Filth and Of…ouring in it, tho' never ſo much pains be taken … keep it neat; and it is no eaſy thing to cleanſe …. There are Beaſts of Prey, that live by catch…g and devouring, to be found in the beſt and …oſt orderly Polities in the World. And theſe … they can't be chaſed away, yet their Jaws muſt …e broken; and the Prey plucked out of their …eeth. This belongs to you; ſo did Job, chapt. …9.17. And it argued that he had an Heart un…aunted. Reſolve thus to do in the Fear of God, …nd he will ſtrengthen you.

12. Conſider the Circumſtances of the preſent Day, … as to be in Prudence providing againſt any threatned …vil. Among other of the ſore Judgments of God, whereby it is a Day of treading down in …he Valley of Viſion, that of the Sword is one. …nd tho' conſidering it as the Rod of Divine An…er, it behooveth us to be deeply humbled under …; yet conſidering it as in the Hand of an unjuſt …nemy, in whoſe Heart it is only to deſtroy as is …id of the Aſſyrian Enemy, Iſa. 10.7. And ſo it … a Duty both natural and religious to arm a…ainſt it. It is good Policy even in a Time of …eace, to follow Davids ſteps, who commanded …at the Children of Judah ſhould be taught the … of the Bow. 2 Sam. 1.18. And certainly to … deficient in this point, when the noiſe of War p. 71is in our ſtreets, will be very unpardonable To be unprovided and ſecure too, at ſuch a time, is a notable Judgment. God forbid we ſhould truſt to our Bow, to our Skill, or to any arm of Fleſh whatſoever, (we have as little pretences for it as any People under the Sun) yet it behooves us to be up and providing for our ſelves; and wherein we may to be up and doing for the ſuccour of others. We have many more inſtances than that of Laiſh, to warn us of the Fate of thoſe that dwell careleſly and at quiet, in a time of danger. Yet it is well worthy our noting, what is ſaid in that caſe, as giving us one great reaſon of that Security. Judg. 18.7. There was no Magiſtrate in the Land, that might put them to ſhame in any thing. You know alſo, who were curſed for their Sluggiſhneſs and Backwardneſs to jeapord themſelves in the High Places of the Field, to help the People of the Lord againſt the Mighty. Judg. 5.23. You know the Diſtreſſes of the Eaſtern Parts of the Country; You frequently hear of the barbarous Cruelties of thoſe Heatheniſh Miſcreants that ſhed the blood of the Lords People; I need not mind you of the Danger of our Sea Coaſts; the God of all Wiſdom direct you, that are our Leaders, and the Captains of his Inheritance, that you may diſcern the Times; and know what may be requiſite for our own ſafety; and how far it may be Duty for us, to expoſe and put our ſelves for…ward in the Defence of the Common Intereſt o… God's People in this Wilderneſs. That this Rui… p. 72may not be advanced by any Neglect of ours, or be under your Hand.

13. Study Unity in your Councils, Proceedings, and in all your Managements. You know the familar ſimilitude, whereby the Strength and Power of Concord is uſually Illuſtrated. A Bundle of Rods; they can't be broken, while they are taken together, but are eaſily ſnap'd aſunder when they are ſevered. Vis unita fortior, is an old Maxim and true. Divide & Impera was helliſh Policy from the Beginning; and it is that which the World is throughly verſed in now a days. Let your Agreement defeat the hopes of all that may thus attempt to practiſe upon you. A Harmony in your Councils and Determinations, is the beſt way to be anſwered with another in our Obedience.

14 Be often recommending your ſelves in all the Affair… eſpecially) proper to your Places, unto the Lord by earneſt Prayer for his Aſſiſtance and Bleſſing. He is a God of Wiſdom, Juſtice, Power and Holineſs; would you be Strong Rods, for the Defence and Rule of his People, by Faith lay hold on his Strength, and he will make you ſo. You have been uſed thus to wait upon the Lord, go on ſtill. Beg the Lords Direction, Influence, Bleſſing Do it heartily, and he who hath made you ours, will be your Guide; He will be with you, and make you the Repairers of our Breaches, the Reſtorers of our Paths. Iſa. 58.12. exceeding great Bleſſings …o his Diſtreſſed People.

2. The ſecond Branch of the Exhortation concerns … all, who are the Body of this People.

p. 73If it be ſuch a Priviledge to have Strong Rods for Scepters to rule us; and if the want of ſuch cannot but be of fatal Conſequence; then How much doth it concern us to endeavour wherein we may the Procurement and Preſervation of ſuch a Publick Bleſſing? We conſult our own Good, and (which ought to be as dear to us) the good of our Poſterity, when we do ſo. Be you then exhorted, for your own ſakes, and for their ſakes, to mind this thing. That Civil Liberty of Election, which you are this day aſſembled to exerciſe, doth advantage many of you to be in this Reſpect, eminently Serviceable to the Publick Weal; let it then be wiſely improved. Remember the Directions that have been given you, and act in the fear of God; that by the Bleſſing of the moſt High upon your prudent endeavours, we may have no ſuch cauſe as the Prophet in our Text, of Lamentation. And as you eſpecially have a great Advantage to procure it; ſo we have all of us a great Intereſt in ſuch a general Bleſſing, and are joyntly concerned to do all we can to advance this Common Felicity. There are many things which for this end God expects of us all, our neglect of which (whatever prudent methods, the moſt Sufficient and Able men may take to prevent it) will certainly involve us in a moſt inevitable Ruine. There may be Maladies in the Body which▪ if they be not ſpeedily healed, will ruin the head and all. Whatever the advantages are which Rulers have to promote the Peoples good, & whatever Pains they take to improve them, yet Rulers themſelves, are but Second Cauſes, and will fail in their endeavours, and of their Aims, as God ſhall with-hold his Bleſſing: and that God oftentim…s doth, as a juſt Puniſhment of the Peoples Sins. When any Detriment befals the State, it is common for the Miniſters of it to bear the Blame; when as they many times leaſt deſerve p. 74it. For, if there be an Ungrateful, Murmuring, Proud Spirit, a Mutinous, Envious and Rebellious Spirit, an Irreligious Spirit Prevailing among a People; it is not all the Counſels of the Wiſeſt, nor Underſtanding of the Prudent, nor Conduct of the moſt Sufficient men, that can keep off Ruin from them. Such a People may be miſerable, do their Rulers what they can. It was not King J…ſiahs Piety or Prudence (however at the preſent it laid ſome kind of Reſtraint upon them) that could divert the approaching lamentable Fate of that Stubborn Sinful People he had the rule of. If there be never ſo skilful a Hand at H…lm, the Ship that will not feel her Helm, may ſtave upon the Rocks, or Strand upon the Shore at laſt. There is much of the Succeſs of Government depending upon the ſuitable becoming behaviour of the People under it. And this is it which we are all Exhorted to at this time. Strong Rods are Rich Bleſſings: God hath a Favour for that People on whom he beſtows them. But then we muſt remember the Tenure by which a People ſo Priviledged do hold them; It is the ſame with that on which they have received their Authority from God. Viz Quamdiu bene ſe geſserint. When a People fail of their Duty, and carry it unworthily under the Command & Conduct of ſuch Rulers; God hath wayes enough to diſcharge them; to take them from ſuch a People; or (if …he doth not ſo, yet) to cauſe that they ſhall not profit them.

For the Prevention of which, I have but theſe few words to offer, and ſo ſhall cloſe.

Are Able and Faithful Rulers ſuch Rich Bleſſings, and would we contribute to this our Happineſs. then,

1. Let us be thankful to God for ſuch Mercies. When the Lord gives Kings to be Nurſing Fathers to his People, as he promiſeth, Iſa 49 23. Should not the Praiſe… of the Lord reſound throughout all the Gates of the p. 75…ughter of Zion? Do we alſo ſee ſuch advanced to …bordinate Places of Power? Let us remember, that … Promotion is from God; It is He that ſets them up. …al. 7 5 6, 7. They are of Him: Rom. 13.1. And by Him …ey Ru…e: Prov. 8.16 We caſt the Lot, but the Lord that … on High, hath the whole diſpoſing of it. Prov. 16 33. … that our Choice is alſo of Gods Appointment; If …ey be of our deſiring, they are of His giving And as …hen others bear rule over a People, it is a Signal of …ods Diſpleaſure, under which they ought to Mourn; … when our Rods are Strong, it is a Fruit of the Lord's …avour, and He ought to have the Praiſe. In Pſal. 72. …fter the Pſalmiſt had in a Prophetical Contemplation …elebrated the happy State of the Common-Weal of …rael, in a Day when they enjoyed the Bleſſing, which … Doctrine ſpeaks of (for the Glory of which Felicity … is conſidered as a Type of Chriſt's Kingdom) cloſeth … with Repeated Acclamations of Praiſe and Honour … God, as the Authour of it, at v. 18.19. Bleſsed be the Lord God, the God of Iſrael, who only doth wondrous things. And bleſsed be his glorious Name for ever, and let the who…e …arth be filled with his Glory: Amen & Amen.

2. Let us highly Prize and Honour them. That Pre…ept the Apoſtle with Reference to Rulers Eccleſiaſti…al, is of as great Force in this caſe. 1 Theſ 5.13. Where …e chargeth us to eſteem them that are over us, very …ighly; and undervalued Mercies are not like to be long continued. Conſider it and be Wiſe. We have not many ſuch to ſpare; certainly then, it is our Prudence and Intereſt not to provoke the Lord to remove them. Again, let our high Eſteem of them, be teſtifyed by an …onourable Deference towards them: The Apoſtle Paul …aith concerning them. Rom. 13.7. That Honour is to be rendred them. They are Gods, Pſal. 82.6. And as ſuch p. 76there is a Civil Worſhip and Reverence due to them, both in Word & Action. Speak no Evil of Dignities; Abhor that Unchriſtian way of Detraction, Backbiting and Slander. If they are God's Vicegerents, certainly it muſt be a Crying Sin and Shame for us thus to treat them. Do our Enemies charge us, that this is the way wherein we have been uſed to requite thoſe that with greateſt Pains, have travailed for the Publick good? Let us refute this Slander; and if we can do no more, yet at leaſt, Let us Love & Honour ſuch as have Rule over us.

3. Take we Care that we don't make them, or provoke them to be other wiſe. As they are ſometimes Acceſſory to our Sins, when they either connive at us doing them, allow us in them, or indulge us afterwards; ſo ſhall we be to their Male Adminiſtrations, if we ſeek to corrupt, diſcourage, pervert, and diſ…hearten, or any way weaken them. There was a very Laudible Spirit in the People when they ſaid to Ezra Chap. 10.4. Ariſe, This matter belongeth unto thee, we alſo will be with thee; be of good Courage & do it. And that matter did accordingly Succeed very ha…ily. But when there is a perverſe Spirit of Diſlike and Contradiction in us, to thwart the Counſels, and controul the Methods, of ſuch as are intruſted with the Care of the Publick: if thoſe Counſels prove abortive, and thoſe Methods vain, it is no more than may reaſonably be expected, and we may thank our ſelves for it.

4. I ſhall not exceed the Bounds of my Commiſſion, (and I hope neither thoſe of your Patience) if I put you in Remembrance, That you be Subject to thoſe that are ſet over you. St Paul left this in Charge with Titus reſpecting his Cretians, Tit. 3 1. And it is a Duty as Obvious to the light of Nature; ſo alſo, poſitively enjoyned us in the Word of God. Eccl. 8.2. I Counſel thee to keep the Kings Commandment, and that in regard of the Oath of

p. 77What can be more Expreſs than that of the A…tle Peter. 1 Pet. 2.13, 14. Submit your ſelves to every …inance of man, for the Lords ſake, whether it be to the … as Supreme, or unto Governours, as unto them that … ſent by them. The General Precept of Obedience, … Apoſtle doth here particularly apply, with Reſpect … Degrees of Authority, both Supreme & Subordinate: … ſo plainly declareth it to be the Mind of God. v. 15. … ſo is the Will of God: That a man muſt Violate … & Conſcience to gain ſay it The Apoſtle Paul … the ſame Duty, in his Epiſtle to the Romans: Chap. … 1. Let every Soul be ſubject unto the higher Powers. And … that the Chriſtians Obligation thereunto hath its …ginal from a Power, which no man can diſpure but … is utmoſt Peril. v. 2. Whoſoever therefore reſiſteth the …, reſiſteth the Ordinance of God; and they that reſiſt, … receive to themſelves Damnation. We might argue …, as the Apoſtle doth in the Context. v. 4. From the …mmon good, which ſhall then flouriſh, when there is …pirit of Wiſdom, Prudence & Judgment in thoſe that …, & of Subjection in others: & upon this Account, … muſt needs be Subject (as the Apoſtle adds v. 5.) … for wrath, but for Conſcience ſake. There are but … things that can rationally be pretended, to diſpenſe … this Obligation: The First is, when the Commands … do croſs the Will of God. And the Second is, … the Authority commanding is not Legal. As to First. It is a ruled Caſe, Act. 5.29. God is to be obeyed … than men. Active Obedience is due, where it may with a ſafe Conſcience; elſe not: yet here, All en…vours are to be carefully uſed, to aſſure our ſelves, the Repugnancy which we conceive to be between … Divine & Humane be not onelyonly in our Imagina…; for otherwiſe, while we pretend to obey the Lord, …efuſing Obedience unto men, we ſhall be found p. 78(which without doubt is the unhappy Condition of ſome) diſobedient both to God & man. As to the latter. viz The …llegality of the Authority Commanding: I ſhal… only ſay, That whatever diſputes there may be, about the various Methods that are in uſe among men, for the Deſig…nation of Perſons to Places of Authority; or about tho… that are Veſted with Authority, whether they came righ…fully by it or no; certainly, they that have the Libert… of Electing their own Rulers, have the leaſt Reaſon … inſiſt upon this Objection, againſt ſuch as are of their ow… Choice; or to hope that it will excuſe, and be a … for their Diſobedience

5. Remember how expreſly God hath required us, that … ſhould …ield them the Honour of Maintainance, as well … that of Reſpect & Obedience And that there might be … leſs room for Diſpute in a point which an avaritious … niggardly World, would be ſo ready to callin queſtio… We have not only the Command it ſelf, but the Rea… of it annexed. Rom. 13.6, 7. For this cauſe pay you Tribu… alſo, for they are Gods Miniſters, attending continually … this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues, Tribute whom Tribute is due, Cuſtom to whom Custom. Yea, we ha… this Duty enforced upon us, by the expreſs Precept … Chriſt himſelf Mat 22.21. Render therefore unto Caeſ… the things which are Caeſars. And our bleſſed Saviour … rather to work a Miracle (whatever might have … pleaded for his own exemption) than omit the Duty offend by not doing it; as you may ſee, Mat 17 26, 2… And if it were not for thoſe natural Seeds of Rebellio… which every man is the worſe for, it would be a wo…der that ſo plain a Precept and Duty ſhould be ſo … regarded. And certainly, it will be as great a wonde… if that Governm…nt that wants this Honourable Suppo… doth not finally ſink under its own Burthen, with … that depends on it.

p. 796 Beware of Murmuring and Faction. God is highly …iſpleaſed with it; and can eaſily make us know it. We … ever to remember, that the condition of perſons, as …ell as State of Affairs here below, won't admit of Per…ction: and ſhould conſider that the Ableſt Rulers on …arth are men of many Infirmities, and ſubject to miſ…oing as well as others. If they miſs it in ſome things, …et if in the main they are right, we have reaſon …o bleſs …od for it; and not to be diſſatisfied: If we be, the more …ou… ſin; and whoever gets by it, we are like to be … ▪ They that are pleaſed with nothing that is pre…nt, but are given to Change, when they have what they …eſi…d, do ſeldom ſit eaſy under it. It was ſuch a per…erſe humour among the People of Iſrael, that occaſion…d a Revolution in the Dayes of Samuel, which we read … 1 Sam 8 But when it was eff…cted; they …hat pro…ably did as much deſire it as any, ſoon thought they …ad little cauſe to boaſt of it. 1 Sam▪ 10.27. But the …hildren of Belial ſaid, How ſhall this man ſave us! & … deſpiſed him.

7▪ Addreſs the Throne of Grace in their Behalf, & pray …r…eſtly, that God in mercy both to them and us, would …ant them a Spirit of Wiſdom and Judgment, Zeal and …olineſs, and make them men after his own heart, that they …ay rule us in the fear of God. 1 Tim. 2 1, 2. St. Paul Ex…orts to this Duty. This indeed is to conſult our grea…ſt Good: We may then hope to lead quiet & peaceable …, as he ſpeaks, v 2 Thus if we do, God will own …; for as in v. 3. This is good and acceptable in the …ght of our God and Saviour.

8 Finally; Let us put away all Iniquity far from us, & … in the Fear of God. It is an awful Judgment not to …ave Strong Rods for Scepters to Rule us: Our Sins merit

The Lord ſometimes threatens thus to puniſh the I…iquity of his people: When Iſrael had degenerated, & p. 80their Religion was become Formality, their Devotio… Hypocriſy, …he Lord ſaith, Iſa. 29 14— The wiſdom their wiſe m…n ſhall periſh. Thus Samuel threatens … people…: 1 Sam 12 25. But if ye ſhall ſtill do wicked ye ſha…l be conſumed, both ye and your King When the Lo… forſak…s thoſe that have th… Rule of his people, no wo…der if we have cauſe to complain, as in Iſa. 3.12. … which lead thee cauſe thee to cry; but the Riſe of this m…chief is oftentimes in the wickedneſs of the people … when God left David to ſin in numbring the People … Sam 2 4 1. … is ſaid it was becauſe Gods Anger was … againſt Iſrael; and you know what it is that kindle… it: Think often often then of Samue…s advice to the people … Iſrael, …ow they might obtain the Favour of God, upo… their Rulers, and upon themſelves. 1 Sam 12.24 … Fear the Lord and Serve him in truth with all your hea… If there … ſuch a heart in us, if we will fear the Lo… and walk… humbly with him; If we will deny Ungod…neſs, and Serve the Lord in Truth, and with all … hearts; we may then hope that our Rods ſhall be … and that th…ſe whom God ſhall this Day Set over … ſhall be greatly bleſſed of the Lord, and be rich B…ſsings unto us.

To Conclude. Let us now look up to God, each of us in … Reſpective Places, to give us Underſtanding in theſe things: … is wanting & what is weak among us, let us all as we are …, conſider: Let us beg of God to ſupply us with what is lack… & let us be watchful, & ſtrengthen the things that remain; if don't …o ſo, the Prophet tells us what we may conclude; … Not …nly that it is now, but will ſtill be more & more for a …. And to add no more; if thi… courſe be not take… us; I dare ſay, that whatever Bleſſings of this kind, whereof have heard at this time, are yet remaining among us, They ſoon be removed into Corners; and the Places that know … now, ſhall know them no more.

FINIS

End of the text · Gurdon Saltonstall, Sermon Before the General Assembly of Connecticut (1697)