Sermon Before the General Assembly of Connecticut, Sermon
A SERMON Preached before the GENERAL ASSEMBLY Of the COLONY OF Connecticut At Hartford in NEW-ENGLAND. May 13. 1697.
BEING The Day for Electing the GOVERNOUR DEPUTY GOVERNOUR and ASSISTANTS, for that COLONY.
Publiſhed by Authority.
BOSTON in NEW ENGLAND. Printed by B. Green, and J. Allen, for Duncan Campbel, over-againſt the Old-Meeting-Houſe. 1697.
A SERMON Preach'd before the GENERAL ASSEMBLY of the COLONY OF Connecticut.
EZEK. XIX.14.
And fire is gone out of a Rod of her Branches which hath devoured her fruit, ſo that ſh… hath no ſtrong Rod to be a Scepter to Rule This is a Lamentation, and ſhall be for Lamentation.
WHatever Differences of Opin…on there have been in th… World, concerning either th… Original or Pre-eminenc… of thoſe various Forms of …vil Government, that have been Extant in i… yet the Thing it ſelf hath ever been eſteeme… …f great neceſſity, and univerſally acknowledged, … a Bleſſin… … Importance to the Weal of … People: Inſomuch that the General Nature of … Common-Weal, with the Specifications there…nto belonging, do neceſſarily relate to Civil Go…ernment, and the ſeveral kinds of it, as to their …ormal Cauſe; whence it ſeemeth, That in …hings of a Civil Nature, there could not with…ut Government, be any ſuch thing as a Com…on Good in the World. Moſt certain it is, …hat by this Medium, Divine Wiſdom hath provi…ed to give check to thoſe wretched Principles, of Pride and Contradiction, Diſorder and Con…uſion, which the firſt Rebellion hath unhappily brought into the hearts of men; As alſo to pre…ent thoſe Exorbitant Practices, and Intollerable Doings, [the genuine Product of ſuch Principles] which are deſtructive to the Peace, and …uinous to the Comforts of Mankind: So that, …n truth, of all thoſe Favours, which God in his moſt Gracious Providence, hath diſtributed for the common benefit of the Children of men, this of Civil Government, deſerves to be reputed among the Principal; for that, both the Advantages of it, are of ſuch vaſt Extent; reaching to the utmoſt limits of the Rational World: and the Benefits of it are ſo exceeding great; ſince it is this, which under God is our Safeguard from Evils, Domeſtick and Forreign, and ſecureth to us whatſoever is valuable in the World. And from the Experience that men have had of theſe Benefits, as well as from Gods Over-ruling Influence upon their Hearts, it comes to paſs, that there is ſuch a willingneſs and Diſpoſition in the moſt, to ſubmit to thoſe Powers that God in his Providence placeth over them.
Indeed we read of thoſe that Deſpiſe the Government, 2 Pet. 2 10. who, in defiance of this Subjection, Speak Evil of Dignities; [And what Ordinance of God is there, that hath not met with ſuch as dare deſpiſe and condemn it?] Yet that many, even of Theſe, [whatever their preſumption and willfulneſs, (which infamous Notes the Apoſtle doth there brand them with,) may prompt them to ſay, or do againſt Government ſpecifically conſidered, or rather againſt the Perſon veſted with it,] are not ſo void of common Underſtanding, as to condemn ſuch Authority in General; appeareth, (if from no other Reaſon, yet at leaſt) from the over weaning conceit they ordinarily have, of their own Abilities, to rectifie the Male-Adminiſtrations of thoſe that are in Authority, and ſo mend the Faults, they accuſe the Government of, had they but their Advantages. It muſt be confeſſed, that ſome, ſuch (I may call them) Monſters of Men and Sinners there have been, as have openly profeſſed themſelves Mortal Enemies, to the Nature and Being of Civil Government (loading it with the odious …l…nders, of an Antichriſtian Stratagem, Limb of the Beaſt, and ſuch as theſe) But that man, who ſhall oppoſe the Furious Notions, of ſuch Frantick men, againſt the concurring voice of all Nations, conſenting to the Neceſſity and Uſefulneſs of this Ordinance, will truly merit the Character, which the Apoſtle in the 12th. verſe of that fore cited Chapter, gives thoſe Defamers, viz. Of Natural Bruit Beaſts; and juſtly …ncur the Judgment he declareth concerning them in that ſame verſe; in thoſe words, Made to be taken and deſtroyed,—and ſhall utterly periſh. And ſurely whatever Detractions from the Honour and Excellency of Civil Authority, This or any other Set of Oppoſers, (blinded by their own willfulneſs) are guilty of; ſuch as have wiſdom to diſcern the Circumſtances of Men in General, with the preſent State of theſe Mundane Affairs, can't but as highly magnifie it; As the great Buckler (when rightly managed) both of Religion and Property, and the beſt Expedient to Save a People from becoming a Prey to thoſe who hate them. The want of which Authority, (whether we underſtand it of a total Failure, or of an undue, lame, and ineffectual Management) hath ever been of fatal conſequence, and opened a Gap for Ruin upon Ruin to break in upon a people. Whence, whoſoever ſhall well weigh, the no leſs natural than uſual Concomitants and Conſequents of this State deficiency, and ſhall conſider, what Irreligion and Profaneneſs, Unrighteouſneſs, and Oppreſſion, Diſorder, and Confuſion, do uſe to invade a People, when the Rod of Dominion is broken, the Bands of Authority diſſolved, and every man is his own King, will ſoon ſee reaſon to reckon Government in the prime Rank of God's Mercies. In the cloſe of the Book of Judges, Chap. ult. ult. We have, as the very Reaſon, both of the great Abominations that had defiled the Land of Iſrael, and of the great Devaſtations that had raged in it, This given us; In theſe Dayes there was no King (or Chief Magiſtrate) in Iſrael.
Now, by how much greater the Bleſſing of Civil Government is (which is deſigned for the Prevention and Removal of thoſe Grievances that are incident to men) by ſo much the more intollerable is it, when it is either not improved at all, or not to any good purpoſe or effect, or miſ-improved; when, either Wit or Will to proſecute the Ends of Rule are wanting; and ſuch as have the managing of it, are either Unskilful, & know not; or Weak, and cannot; or perverſe and will not conſult the Peace and Weal of thoſe they bear rule over. Though the Calamities, and Confuſions of Anarchy, are very dreadful, yet the Inſtances of ſuch as have been ruin…ed by the abuſe, rather than the want of Civi… Authority, are more frequent, and as formida…ble. It is a ſad caſe that a People is in, whe… there are no Rods at all, for a Scepter to Rule and it is not much (if it be any thing) bette… when thoſe Rods that are, are not ſtrong Rods and thoſe Scepters, Scepters of Righteouſneſ… This hath a very ominous Aſpect upon a Peopl… This affords a pleaſing Proſpect to their Enemies, and will not be long in bringing the whole State of their Affairs into a lamentable Confuſion.
This is it which the Prophet in our Text obſerves, to be the miſerable caſe of the State of Judah; They that once had Men of Piety, Wiſdom, Truth and Majeſty, to adorn the Throne of Soveraignty, and Seats of Juſtice, were brought to that deplorable paſs, that they had not a ſtrong Rod to Rule them. And this was, to all that underſtood the worth of ſo great a Mercy, or ſhould feel the want of it, ſuch matter of ſorrow, that we have it ingeminated by the Prophet. This is a Lamentation, and ſhall be for a Lamentation.
There are two things (mutually illuſtrating each the other) which from theſe words of the Prophet, may be recommended to your Conſideration; and I hope not unſuitably to the preſent Occaſion.
The firſt is, The much to be lamented Circumſtances of a State or People, over whom, there are None▪ or None ſuch as there ſhould be, holding the Reins of Authority, with a juſt and ſteady, ſtrong and impartial Hand: This is expreſſed; This is it which the Prophet ſo bewails.
The ſecond is implied, viz. The Happineſs of a People who have Strong Rods, for Scepters to Rule them. And ſo far as we ſhall find, (in the handling of theſe caſes) either of them to b… co-incident with our own, There will ariſe a variety of Duties, belonging to us reſpectively in our ſeveral Stations; and thoſe of great Importance, both for the preventing and removing of that Miſery, and for the procuring and perpetuating this Happineſs
This Chapter (wherein is our Text) doth contain a Deſcription of the Preſent, with the next Preceding State of the Kingdom of Judah, (aſcending, as is generally concluded, as far as to the end of King Joſiahs Reign) in a Twofold Parable.
The Firſt, of a Lioneſs and her Whelps, catching the Prey, and devouring until they▪ were taken in the Pit. From verſe 2. to the 9th incluſively. Which Parable refers to the Time of the Two Kings, ſucceſſively following Joſiah▪ Jehoahaz and Jehojakim.
The Second (from the 10th verſe to the end) of a Vine, fruitful and full of Branches, but pluck'd up at length and caſt to the Ground. Which ſets forth the augmented Miſeries of that declining State, under the two next Kings Jehojachin and Zedekiah.
This laſt verſe, ſeemeth to be not only a Narrative of the Low Ebb, that the Regal Authority of the Kings of Judah, was already fallen in…to; (who were rather Princes than Kings, and thoſe Tributaries to the King of Babylon) Bu… alſo, a Prediction what a lamentable paſs, th… Civil Affairs of that Kingdom (already ſo perplexed) ſhould come to, after Zedekiahs Captivity, which was now at Hand. Concerning which (to ſhew the certainty of it) the Prophet here ſpeaks of it as already come: And Fire is gone out, &c. which hath devoured her Fruit: verified conſiderably by what they dayly ſaw and ſuſtained; but afterwards, more in thoſe horrid Tumults, Murders and Confuſions, that fell out in Gedaliah's Time; whom Nebuchadnezzar had appointed Governour over the Reſidue of the Jews, permitted to abide in the Land.
In the words themſelves we may Obſerve,
1. How the Judaean State came to be involved in theſe Calamities. And Fire is gone out of a Rod of her Branches. This was it which had ruined them: All the Fruits of this Vine, were by this means devoured.
2. The Calamity it ſelf, here noted by the Prophet, in which they were involved. So that ſhe hath no Strong Rod, for a Scepter to Rule.
3. The Prophets Reflection thereupon; This is a Lamentation, and ſhall be for a Lamentation: The two laſt I principally deſign to ſpeak to.
The Political State of the Jews, is here reſembled to us by a Vine; Their Kings (who were from among themſelves, an ancient Bleſſing which God had promiſed them. Deut. 17.15.) were the Rods of the Branches of this Vine; and theſe were They, that by their Sin and Folly, kindled the Fire which conſumed, both themſelves and the State. This is the Summ of the firſt part of the verſe; And belongs, as to its Application, to the three Kings or Princes, preceding Zedekiah (all of them groſs Idolaters:) And eſpecially to Zedekiah's revolting from, and afterwards refuſing to ſubmit to the King of Babylon; (as the Prophet Jeremiah counſelled him: Jer. 38.17, 23.) This ſet Fire to the Rage of that Potent Monarch, and that Fire deſtroyed the City of Jeruſalem, the Temple, and (in a great meaſure) the Ancient Civil Politie of the Jewiſh Nation.
The Figurative Terms in the latter part of the verſe are obvious; and need not much to be ſaid for their Explication. I ſhall add what is needful in a few words.
Rod.] The ſame word is rendred Staff. The word according to the Notation of it, ſignifieth a Thing to Lean upon. Hence it is Metaphorically put for whatſoever is neceſſary for the Subſiſtence of another. So the Staff of Bread, in Lev. 26.26. and Ezek. 4.16. is that ſupply of ſuch Kind, which a Perſon or People hath dependance upon, and cannot ſubſiſt without: Hence it ſig…nifieth Power, Authority, or Government; Iſa▪ 9.4 and 10.24 Per. Metaph. Becauſe Govern…ment is the very Prop and Support of a Stat… and that by which it doth ſubſiſt. Or, (as ſom… would have it) It may be put for Governme… or Authority, Per Metonymiam Adjuncti, the ſi… being put for the Thing ſignified. Becauſe ſu… Rods were an Ancient Badge of thoſe that were in Authority. Whence the ſame word ſignifieth a Tribe. Pſal. 78.7. Becauſe every Tribe had a Rod, with the Name of that Tribe on it, which the Princes of the Tribes uſed to carry in their Hands as Enſigns of their Authority. So that by Rods, we are to underſtand Perſons in Authority; the Adjunct being put for the Subject.
Scepter.] Is a word of the ſame Import: A Scepter is a Mark of Majeſty and Severity which Kings of old, as well as now, were wont to uſe. Yet it is not to be reſtrained to Kingly Dominion only: (in Amos 1.8. It is uſed concerning the State of the Philiſtines which was Ariſtocratical:) And it ſignifieth, by the ſame Metonymie, any Power or Majeſty, of Government or Rule, under what form or Name ſoever. This then explaineth the former word; No Rods for a Scepter; i. e. Men in Authority, or Civil Government; for the Term Scepter is no where applied to any other kind of Government exerciſed by Men over one another.
To Rule.] The word is of great Extent, implies a Right and Authority over Perſons and Actions, and whatever can be Governed: In a word, it comprehends here, whatever belongs to the Exerciſe of Civil Power: as to Enact Laws, …o aſſure Rewards to the Obedient; to determine Penalties for the Diſobedient, and to diſtribute …oth Rewards and Puniſhments. No Rod for a …cepter to Rule; i. e. Such were wanting as ſhould hold the Reins of Government, manage Affairs of State, preſerve Order and Peace.
But, How ſo? Was not Zedekiah King? And had he not Officers under him? This Difficulty will eaſily be removed, by conſidering the Quality of theſe Rods; which the Prophet adds; and is principally to be taken notice of, and obſerved here. Rods they had, but not Strong Ones.
No Strong Rod.] or Rod of ſtrength. Commonly applyed to Kings & Kingdoms, which are for the moſt part, won and held thereby. This the Prophet adds to compleat the Deſcription of thoſe, whoſe help the ſtate wanted: and that very agreeably with the Metaphor of a Rod or Staff, here uſed. If a Staff have no ſtrength in it, it will prove but a Deceit, Cheat and Diſappointment, to whomſoever make uſe of it: it is its ſtrength that makes it Serviceable. The ſame is true alſo, in this figurative uſe of the Word; or of thoſe whom the Prophet here ſtileth Rods. Whatſoever is requiſite to accompliſh Thoſe that bear Rule, that the ſtate may ſafely have dependance upon them; and without hazard lean upon their Conduct, whether it be Wiſdom, Juſtice, Piety, Proweſs; that is the ſtrength of theſe Rods, the Prophet here ſpeaks of. And it is evident, he ſpeaks of them under this Conſideration (viz. as ſo accompliſhed) for men in Authority there were; Zedekiah was now King; after him the King of Babylon ap…pointed Gedaliah Governour; (the time was no… yet come for the Scepter to depart from Judah, Gen. 49.10.) But theſe Rods, were not ſtrong ones; accompliſhed for their places, and the Service of their Generations.
Thus you have the Prophet's Repreſentation of their calamitous Circumſtances. Next follows his Reflection upon them. This is a Lamentation] It is a word that ſignifyeth the deepeſt Mourning, 2 Sam. 1.16. But how was this a Lamentation? It was ſo, both. (1.) Formally. It was of it ſelf ground of great Sorrow; That a State, o…ce famous and flouriſhing, and (which is more) ſo peculiarly favoured of God above all others, ſhould be thus caſt down to the Ground. v. 12. (2.) Effectively. It would open a Gap to numberleſs Ruins; which both they that now lived ſhould ſmart under; and they alſo ſhould rue, who were yet unborn.
It is, and ſhall be for a Lamentation: noting both the Certainty and Duration of theſe Calamities and Sorrows. For evils that come in at the Door of a Weak, Remiſs, Lax Government, don't uſe to be ſpeedily turned out again.
So you have the caſe of this People opened (ſo far as concerns their Civil State) and you have it lamented as very ſorrowful. Whoſoever ſhall look back to the times of King David, with thoſe next following, and, ſhall take a view of the Conqueſts of that Reign; of Enemies ſubdued; Cities taken; Countries ſubjected; People made tributary; Religion and Juſtice flouriſhing; and the Nation formidable to all that were round about them; together with the peacefull Policy and Glory of Solomon his Son and Succeſſor; and ſhall conſider further, what all this was at length come to, in the times of our Prophet, through the grievous Sins, and groſs Imprudence, of the higheſt Ranks and degrees of men accompanied with the wretched Degeneracy of the whole People (a natural conſequent of the former) will without Heſitation ſubſcribe to this of the Prophet; and acknowledge it to be juſt matter of Lamentation. It were enough to make a ſenſible mans heart ake, to compare the Miſeries of this time wherein the Prophet wrote, with the Glories of the former.
Theſe things, are they not written for our Learning? Certainly, It is an obvious Truth that from hence lies before us; Viz. That no greater Miſery can well befall a People (conſidered in their politick Capacity) than to be deſtitute of ſuch Rulers as the Prophet here ſpeaks of; or to be under the Government of others. It is this that the Prophet here Laments, as that which was and would be, a dreadful inlet to undoing Evils. And conſequently, the happy ſtate of a People, is hence inferred, who have Strong Rods for Scepters to rule them.
This is the Leſſon; And we ſhall be happy, if we can learn it from the Harms of others, and not our own. Faelix quem faciunt aliena Pericula cautum.
This therefore give me leave to recommend to you at this Time, in this general Inference from the Words, as the Doctrine to be conſidered and improved. Viz.