Sermon Before the General Assembly of Connecticut, Sermon · Doctrine and explication – Application 1
DOCTRINE.
Able and Faithful Rulers, are Rich Bleſſings to a People, and the want of ſuch is Ruinous. Or thus; Civil Rulers, able for, and faithful in their Places, are rich Bleſſings to their People; and the want of ſuch, is fatal.
When thoſe that are Veſted with ſuch Authority, are meetly accompliſhed for their Places, and faithful in diſcharging the Truſt repoſed in them, they are incomparable Bleſſings; Bleſſings of ſuch Importance, that when they fail, it brings Ruine upon a People. They are great Bleſſings themſelves, and may be happy Inſtruments of many more. Theſe are the Strong Rods, unto which the Prophet in the Context, ver. 11. doth attribute the Grandeur and Glory of the once Flouriſhing State of Judah. And She had Strong Rods, for the Scepter of them that bear Rule, and her Stature was Exalted among the thick Branches, &c. But now, O Tempora! O Mo…es! Things had quite another Face; The Rods had no Strength in them; All the Ancient Glory was laid in the Duſt, and every thing covered over with Diſorder and Confuſion.
Here are two things to be conſidered.
1. The Subjects ſpoken of: Rulers.
2. What it is makes Them ſuch great Bleſſings
1. The Subjects are Rulers, i. e. Such as are in Places of Civil Authority, and have the Government of others. Of theſe the Prophet here ſpeaketh. And the metaphorical terms uſed in the Deſcription, do point out Civil Rulers, a… the Perſons deſcribed. For if the Term Rod… may be applied to ſome other kind of Govern…ment, beſide Civil; yet at leaſt, Scepters, (which is the other Term,) are proper Badges of thi… kind of Authority, and belong only to Civi… Rulers.
Of theſe, ſome are Supreme; who Stand i… the Higheſt Rank of Dominion among Men and are accountable only to the King of King… Theſe, in reſpect of all Inferiour Ranks, are (… it were) the Fountains of all Rightful Authority and like the Sun, Shine with their own Light… There are others, who are Subordinate; who though they Shine alſo in their proper Sphaere… yet they Shine with a borrowed Light; and de…rive that Authority which they have, from th… Higher Powers; and are accountable to thoſe by whom they are Authorized. Of both th… Apoſtle makes mention. 1 Pet. 2.13, 14.
And (as there are theſe two Degrees of R…lers, ſo) there is a Twofold Authority reſidin… in them.
1. There is a Power of Legiſlation, makin… …aws, enjoyning a Rule of Obedience, with the …romiſe of a Reward; and the Addition of a Penalty, in caſe of Diſobedience: All which, …ome (it ſeemeth not ſo rightly) take to be ſo Eſſential to Soveraignty, that it cannot be grant…d to any Subordinate Ruler, without admitting Him to a Participation of Soveraignty; or rather without deſtroying that Soveraignty it ſelf.
2. There is an Executive Power, (or if I may …ſe the word) a Power of Legiſaction; whereby …he Laws Enacted are put in Force; Juſtice ac…ording to Law Adminiſtred; Right is ſecured; …njuries are ſuppreſſed; Offenders are puniſhed; …he Obedient are Rewarded; The Good Order …nd Peace deſigned is preſerved, and the General …eal promoted.
This twofold Power there is in Civil Rulers, …nd may reſpectively belong to both Supreme …nd Subordinate.
Of this latter ſort there is a great variety; There are Viceroys of Countries and Kingdoms; …overnours of Colonies, and Corporations; Judge, … Cauſes, Civil and Criminal; Magiſtrates, Juſtices, and (as the word is abuſed) Commiſſioners; …ome that repreſent the Commonalty, and are …eputed to act for Them: With many more; …ccording to the various Forms and Methods of …overnment, that are in uſe among men. Who …ave All of them (ſome more, ſome leſs of) …uthority reſiding in them; and each of theſe …rders, according to their ſeveral diſtinct Proportions of this Authority, may come under … Denomination of Civil Rulers.
2. What is it that makes them ſuch … Bleſſings?
The Doctrine informs us, That the Stren… of theſe Rods lies in theſe two things.
1. Their Ability. 2. Their Fidelity.
The one Reſpects their Accompliſhment their Places. The other, their Honeſty in th… Places. And theſe two, like the two Pillars▪ the Temple, are the main Props of a Comm… Weal.
To begin with the Firſt; That they may ſuch Bleſſings.
1. They muſt be Able Men. Exod. 18.21. elſe it will be a Vanity, to expect any Secu… or Benefit from their Conduct; and a poin… the greateſt madneſs to be Flattered with▪ Hope of it.
Here Obſerve theſe few Particulars.
1. They ſhould be Men of Knowledge and …. Deut. 1.13. Without Knowledge, … can Wholeſome Laws be Enacted; or thoſe … are ſo, underſtood, or put in Execution. … is not (perhaps) any Study more copious … any Practice more difficult, than that of … Law: There is ſuch a vaſt Variety of Act … requiring a particular Application of the … Rules of Juſtice to them; there are ſo … knotty, intricate Caſes, wherein the Truth … not ly ſo ſhallow, as to be eaſily come at; … … be of any tolerable Attainments in this ſort … Skill, calls for Good Parts, …nd a good Im…ovement of them. This Wiſdom Solomon … of God, 2 Chron. 1.10. And, when he … it, he found it ſo rich a Jewel in his Crown, … neceſſary to Government, that he ſpeaks of …, which had not a good meaſure of it, as … worthy To Speak in the Gate. Prov. 24.7. i. e. … have any thing to do as Judges in Matters of …dicature. The Gates of Cities, being of Anci…t Time, the Places where they Held their …urts of Juſtice.
Such is the Unskilfulneſs of ſome that have an …est and juſt Cauſe; Such the Craft and Subtilty … many that have a bad one; ſuch the Tricks & Shifts … men have deviſed, to pervert the Senſe of … beſt, and to Evade the Force of the ſtrongeſt …ws; ſuch the Fair Colours, that the wicked …ngues, & worſe Conſciences of unconſcionable …vocates ſtudy to put upon the moſt unjuſt and …egal Actions; that if there be not Wiſdom to …arch out the Matter, there will be no Judging … which ſide Truth and Juſtice lies. Again; …udence is another Branch of this Requiſite; … a principal Ornament of an Able Ruler. … Wiſe men are not Prudent Rulers. They …aſt have moreover a Diſcretion and Aptneſs, … apply the Knowledge they have, to the Ends … Government; and to the Nature and Circum…nces of thoſe things that come under their …ndling; that Matters of State may be mana… with a ſuitable Honour & Decorum. This will command Reſpect from all that are concern in them; and preſ…rve Government from falli… under the Contempt of thoſe, that will regard no longer, than while it hath an Aw upon the In a word, many things may be lawful in the…ſelves, which are not expedient for the Good … the Common Weal; He is a Wiſe man … knows them; and he is a Prudent Ruler, that kno… how to avoid them. It was Davids Praiſe, … when God had ſet him over his People, He … them by the Skilfulneſs of his Hands. Pſal. 78.…
2. They muſt be Juſt and Upright Men. … unleſs they be ſuch, all their Knowledge will … ſerve to render them the more heinous Sinne… and the worſe Common-wealth's Men. … muſt be Men of Truth: Exod. 18.21. … 2 Sam. 23.3. Such an one was Job; concerni… whom the Lord teſtifieth that he was Uprig… Job 1.1. And Job profeſſeth concerning … ſelf, chap. 29.14. I put on Righteouſneſs, &c. … Judgment was as a Robe and Diadem. Theſe V…tues were the Attire and Ornaments of his … The work which God and men call them to, … to diſtribute Juſtice to others, and without … be ſuch men themſelves, they can never do … If they han't a ſteady, conſtant Care and … and Love, to promote Juſtice and Righteouſ… among men, they will but abuſe their … and be falſe to their Truſt; and this care … zeal they can never have, unleſs they be men… juſt and honeſt Principles themſelves. Be … … they are to Rule by, never ſo good and …leſome, yet Judges of a corrupt Conſcience, … either wittingly miſconstrue them; wilfully …vert the true intention of them; (or wink at … that do it ignorantly) or they may delay … Juſtice Sued for upon them, or poſitively …. When ſuch as Rule over others, own no …jection to the known Rules of Juſtice and …neſty, their own wills ſhall be their Law; or … mans will beſide, that hath but Wickedneſs …ugh to go to the coſt of purchaſing it at their …. Flattery and Bribery come upon ſuch, … armed men, and there is no Power nor …art to withſtand them. Finally that Authori… which is not exerciſed under the Influence of … Principles, will prove either Arbitrary and …annical, or turn to Anarchy and Confuſion.
…. They muſt be Men of Courage and Reſolution. … if they knew never ſo well what they ought …, & if they have never ſo much a mind to do …et a faint heart will betray both their Know…ge and their Honeſty, to the Will of any … One that dares to oppoſe them. Moſes …efore gives it in Charge to his Judges, Deut. …7. Ye ſhall not be Afraid of the Face of Man, … ▪ Let their Looks be never ſo big, or their … never ſo bold; you that have the Sword …uſtice, ſhould not be daunted at them. Thoſe … Corruptions in men, that make Government …ſſary, make it as neceſſary, that Rulers ſhould … Viri Fortes, Strong Rods, or they will ſoon be trampled down, and become inſignificant. The Poor when they tranſgreſs may be eaſily puniſhed and kept under; a little Courage if there be but any care and Conſcience in the Magiſtrate, will ſerve to reduce them to order, and make them weary of their diſorders: But when men of a higher Rank do offend (and that is as often as any) when they that ſhould be Examples of Obedience to others, ſcorn to ſtoop to the Laws themſelves, bid defiance to thoſe Ordinances which they owe Subjection to, and when they have ſo done, think by their Riches, or Power▪ or Friends, or Intereſt, or any thing elſe to ſtand by, and juſtify what they have done He is a man of Courage that takes ſuch as theſe to task; and he is not fit to wear the Sword o… Juſtice, that dares not do it. One ſuch Cowardly inſtance, may be an irreparable Prejudice to th… whole State; and tends (in the iſſue) to rende… Authority contemptible to the Vileſt amon… them.
4. And Laſtly. They muſt be Pious Godly Me… This, though it be mentioned in the laſt place is not the leaſt of theſe Excellent properties … Able Rulers. Yea, this is it which intro…duceth a Divine Bleſſing upon the Improveme… of the other; and adds a Luſtre and Beauty … them all. The Pureſt Politicks are but inſipid Tra… unleſs they have this ſeaſoning; It is this th… influenceth and actuates, the principles of Mo… Honeſty & Juſtice; It is this that muſt ſtren…then the Hearts and rouſe …he Courage of Rulers, againſt the moſt daring Tranſgreſſors. Therefore it was excellent Counſel of Jethro to Moſes, Exod. 18.21. When he laid it down to him as the principal Character of Able Rulers, that they ſhould be ſuch as fear God.
I do not ſay, That none do or may, legally, or juſtly rule over others, who are not ſo qualified, or have not this fear: it is an undeniable Truth, that, Temporal Dominion is not founded on Grace. Such men may by an indiſputable Right, ſway the Scepters of Earthly Kingdoms, who do not belong themſelves to the Spiritual Kingdom of Chriſt; I am not ſpeaking of mens Right to Govern others; but of their being qualifyed for it. A man may have a juſt right in a thing, and a legal Poſſeſſion of it, and yet not be fit to make uſe of it. So here, whatſoever legal Right men have to rule over others, or whatever Authority of this kind they are veſted with; yet Piety is one thing requiſite, to the orderly and right improvement of it; becauſe it is to be exerciſed …n the Fear of God 2 Sam. 23.3. And to be di…ected to Gods Glory as the Ultimate end of it. Whether Sound Chriſtians, or Good Politicians are …itteſt to bear Rule in Chriſtian Common-weals, …s another Queſtion, and forreign from my pre…ent Buſineſs; who am conſidering, not which … the moſt Excellent of thoſe Properties that are …equired, and have been mentioned as neceſſary, …o render men Able Rulers: but whether theſe that have been mentioned are not needful; and this eſpecially among the reſt. And ſurely, tho' there are a great many Good men, who would make but poor Rulers; yet it can't be rationally thought, that ſuch as han't the Fear of God ruling in their own hearts, are qualified as they ought to be for the weighty Charge of Governmen… To conclude: Whatever may be neceſſary, to be patiently ſubmitted to, by a People fearing the Lord, whoſe Rulers have their Right to Govern them by Succeſſion, or any other way, without their Conſent or Choice; yet, certainly, it is much to be deſired and endeavoured, by ſuch as have the Liberty and Favour of appointing their own Rulers; That thoſe who will not have God to rule in their own hearts, ſhould have as little as may be to do, in the ruling of his People.
Let us nextly in a Word or two, conſider the Second Branch of the Deſcription: their Fidelity.
2. They must be faithful in their Places. This is alſo requiſite, to render Rulers ſuch Bleſſings to their People. If men hold Offices of never ſo great Advantage to Serve the Publick, and are never ſo well accompliſhed for them; yet, if they are not induſtrious to improve thoſe accompliſhments, and careful to make uſe of thoſe advantages; they not only do no Good themſelves, but (which is a double wrong) they take up the Room from, and ſo prevent others, who have as good Qualifications, and would make a good uſe of them. But (on the other hand) The Fidelity of Rulers crowns their Ability, and makes it to be both ſeen and honoured of all.
Let me here inſtance in a few things, wherein this Fidelity of Rulers ſhould, and will be diſcovered. It will be ſeen in:
1. A ſedulous applying themſelves to the Wo…k of their Office. The Apoſtle ſaith, Rom. 12.8. He that ruleth, let him rule with Diligence. And it is as needful in Civil, as in any kind of Government. Whatever it is, that God calls us to Serve him in, we are to wait upon that thing. And a Heathen could ſay; Spartam quam nactus es, hanc orna. Civil Rulers are (by the Ordinance both of God and man) not only ſet apart from, but ſet above others, for a Special and Honourable Service; which cannot therefore with a good Conſcience be neglected. King Jehoſaphat gave this Inſtruction in ſpecial, with the Commiſſion he had granted to thoſe Judges that were to ſet at Jeruſalem, 2 Chron. 19.9. Thus ye ſhall do: q. d. mind the thing that you have now in Commiſſion, and let it be done without fail. And for this reaſon, God hath provided, that ſuch as thus Serve the Publick, ſhould have not only the Honour of Reverence, but alſo of Tribute; Rom. 13.6. For this cauſe pay you Tribute alſo; for …hey are Gods Miniſters, attending continually on this …very Thing. That, as the former relates to the Dignity; ſo the latter ſhould honourably ſupport them, and ſupply the neceſſities ariſing from that attendance. Thus, the ſame right that Rulers have to theſe civil Dues, Tribute, or Salary, (call it by which name you pleaſe) than which right, nothing can be more indiſputable, as being the expreſs command of God, Rom. 13.7; The ſame reaſon have they to attend to that Service which acquires it.
2. A diligent Enquiry into all Cauſes depending before them. The Judges ſaith Moſes, Deut. 19.18. ſhall make diligent Inquiſition; and Job ſaith, chap. 29.16. The Cauſe that I knew not, I ſearched out; yea, It is the Honour of a King to ſearch out a matter. Prov. 25.2. And before this is well done, before conſideration had, and Examination made, of all Witneſſes and Circumſtances, Proofs and Pleas (with whatever elſe may be worthy of it, or ſerve to give Light in the Caſe) It is not ſafe but ſhameful to determine any thing Prov. 18.13. He that anſwereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and ſhame unto him. The Truth many times lies deep, and can't be diſcovered without this courſe be taken, and diligently followed. This therefore is none of the leaſt difficult parts of a Rulers Task; it requires a great deal, both of pains and patience, and muſt be undergone. There is the Onus, as well as the Honos, the Burthen as well as the Honour of Government; & they that will not bear the one, are not worthy to wear the other. When ſuch men as have the Rule of others, are either ſlowthful in the Buſneſs which belongs to them as ſuch, or careleſs about it, and (Gallio like) value not whether Matters go right or wrong, ſo they can but Serve themſelves, and get rid of the trouble of being concerned with them, they are not only injurious to particulars, but the very diſgrace of their Places, ſo long as they hold them.
3. An upright and impartial Judging in every Cauſe occurring: not warp'd in the leaſt, from the ſtreight Rule of Juſt and Right, either by Flattery or Bribery, Favour or Affection. They muſt not reſpect perſons in Judgment. Deut 1.17. Prov. 24.23. No not the pooreſt man in his Cauſe, if he hath not Right on his ſide. Exod, 23.3. Juſtice is to be Given, not Sold, and that with an equal ſteady hand; ſo that, neither a fooliſh Compaſſion on the miſerable when they are culpable, nor affection to Friends, nor the Inſinuations of the Crafty, nor the Daubings of Flatterers, the Gifts of the Wealthy, the Favour of Great Ones, nor yet the Frowns or Threats of the Mighty, ſhould make it incline in the leaſt to either ſide. Whatever Difference in reſpect of Dignity there may be between the Parties concerned in the Juſtice to be Adminiſtred, yet Juſtice remains one and the ſame; and the Law by which it is to be Adminiſtred, ought to be duly regarded, and kept unto; and not bow'd and bent on every turn, as may ſerve Occaſion: This will maintain the Honour of the Laws, & of him who Executes them; whereas if this be n…glected, they will be both deſpiſed.
4. A conſcientious regulating themſelves, according to thoſe Laws by which they Rule. For although they owe this Obedience, conſidered in a more private capacity, yet their yielding of it, not a little conduceth to their faithful management of their publick Office; ſince they can't be more falſe to that Truſt, than when they are themſelves Actors of that Evil, which they are intruſted to puniſh in others. They … Cuſtodes tam Pietatis, quam Juſtitiae inter Homines. Keepers, Preſervers, Promoters of Piety and Righteouſneſs among men: This is it which they have in Charge from God and men; this is the great Matter committed to them. And for men to violate that thing (whatſoever it be) which is committed to their Care, is among the higheſt Notes of Infidelity. Good and Faithful Rulers, will be far from thinking, that their Authority (which is to ſuppreſs Evil in others) ſerveth as a Diſpenſation to themſelves, to be, and do as they pleaſe. They will not eſteem themſelves at ſuch a liberty; or think that they are as much above the Law they are to Rule by, as they are above thoſe they are to Rule over. But, they know that (conſidering the Places they ſtand in) it doth as much concern them, to approve themſelves worthy Patterns of all Holineſs Righteouſneſs and Obedience, as to puniſh the d…ult of theſe in others. They know that their bad Examples, will be more followed (and by more) then their Authority will be feared. Prov. 29 12. And that therefore, they can never be honeſt in their Places, unleſs they labour to be Inſtances of that Reverence themſelves, which they expect all others ſhould ſhew to the Laws under their Adminiſtration. And (to add no more) when they that ſhould be a Terror to Evil Doers, ſet themſelves up for an Example to them; and do the very things, that they ſhould bear witneſs againſt in others, we may be ſure, The Wicked will walk on every ſide Pſal. 12.8. without Fear either of God or man. But when thoſe that are in Authority, do by their own Obedience, practically honour the Laws they adminiſter, this is not only an Encouragement to thoſe that do well, but a Terrour to all that do otherwiſe; and utterly takes away the Hope of Impunity from the moſt preſumptuous. For this Inſtance of a Rulers Fidelity is the beſt Aſſurance that he hath taken up Davids Reſolution. Pſal. 75.10. To cut off all the Horns of the Wicked; and that he will not bear the Sword of Juſtice in vain.
Thus you ſee, who are the Strong Rods; and what it is makes them ſo: Wiſe and Juſt, Couragious and Pious Rulers: Devoting themſelves to the work or their Office, diligently enquiring into, and impartially judging in Cauſes depending, and of Exemplary Converſation.
It remains that we ſhew them to be rich Bleſſings.
And that we may make a right Eſtimate of the worth of ſuch men, and come to know what Bleſſings they are to the Publick; we may firſt conſider, wherein the Publick Weal conſiſts; and then what Influence they have upon it: And from their Serviceableneſs to that great End of Government, we may fairly compute what value we ought to put upon them. Wherein this Weal doth lie, the Apoſtle tells us, 1 Tim. 2.2. viz. in a quiet and peaceable life in all Godlineſs and Honeſty. In which words, he points out to us the two great things, that are the grand Intereſts of a People; Religion and Property. When a people have the liberty of profeſſing the True and Orthodox Faith of the Goſpel, and of Worſhipping and Serving the Lord in the ways of his own Appointment, according to the preſcription of his bleſſed Word; & when a people may enjoy their proper Rights and Priviledges, according to Gods Laws and their own; when they have that liberty ſecured to them, againſt the Invaſions of Error, Profaneneſs and Superſtition; and theſe Rights and Priviledges maintained both againſt the Annoyances of a Foreign Power, and againſt the Attempts of Domeſtick Oppreſſion, Fraud and Violence, ſo that as the Pſalmiſt ſpeaks, Pſal. 144.14. There is no breaking in, nor going out, nor complaining in their Streets. Then they enjoy this Quietneſs and Peace, in all Godlineſs and Honeſty; And that People is happy, that is in ſuch a caſe.
Now therefore, if it can be evinced, that Able and Faithful Rulers, are the great means under God, for the attaining theſe great ends of Government, and for the procuring and eſtabliſhing this Happineſs: the matter will be out of all doubt; and that People muſt be confeſſed happy, that have ſuch to rule them. And here.
Whoſoever ſhall well weigh the Condition of a People under other Circumſtances; whether we conſider them as wholly deſtitute of Rulers; or their Rulers deſtitute of ſuch Qualifications; ſhall never want Conviction in this Particular.
1. For, As to the firſt of theſe Caſes, viz. When it is the condition of a People to be deſtitute of Rulers; their caſe is woful. The Conſequents of Anarchy are ſo manifeſtly fatal to the whole and to particulars, that the very Authors of it, have bluſh'd to be it's Advocates. Nature it ſelf allows us not to imagine, that the Civil Felicity of a People can ſubſiſt without Government. Whatever Diſſatisfaction men have conceived, againſt the Powers that are, they are rather againſt the Perſon, than the Authority: Yea, they, that being weary of any preſent Powers, are given to Change, do ever pretend to hope for better; which ſhews, that the Neceſſity of Government to the common Good of a People, is ſuch a concluſion of the Light of Nature, as cannot be concealed, no not in the moſt Diſaffected. And (which brings to the other caſe) the ſame Light that commends ſome Government as neceſſary, condemns a bad one.
2. Nor (Secondly) doth it mend the matter much, if a People have ſuch to rule them, as are not ſuitably qualified: Who have either no Wiſdom to diſcern Time & Judgment; or if they have Wiſdom, that Wiſdom is not regulated by Juſtice; or that Juſtice not ſtrengthened by Courage; or this Courage not influenced by Piety; but they are though ambitious of the Honour, yet careleſs of the cha…ge of Government; impatient in Examination; raſh in Judging; partial in their Sentence; culpable in their Deportment; Examples of that Impiety which they ſhould ſuppreſs in others. And what can be expected from ſuch, but the Ruin of a People? They don't know, or if they do, they will not regard the Intereſt of the Publick; and be ſure, will never Expoſe themſelves in the Defence of it. They have more advantage than others to wrong the Publick, and as little conſcience as any, to reſtrain them. Theſe are they that will juſtify the wicked for a Reward, and take away the Righteouſneſs of the Righteous from him. Iſa. 5.23. inſtead of …ighting thoſe that are injured, they will add to the wrong. Religion ſuffers deeply by them, and eſpecially by their Immoralities; & the crafty Oppreſſor takes heart in his wickedneſs; preſuming either to eſcape their obſervance, or to have their Connivance. Whoever ſeek the Hurt of their People, theſe will do little (to purpoſe) to prevent them; but if a fair opportunity preſent, they will become Parties in the Deſign; and pleaſe themſelves, if they may have but the luck to build their own private Fortunes on the Publick Ruins: Or (at leaſt) if they do not thus of ſet purpoſe, they'l do the ſame out of ignorance, ſluggiſhneſs or cowardize, that others do out of deſi… ▪ and that's every whit as miſchievous to the Publick. …mon paints theſe men to the life. Prov. 28.15. As a Roaring Lion, and a Ranging Bear; ſo is a Wicked Ruler over the poor People. This is the character of Folly ſet in great Dignity. Eccleſ. 10.6. And theſe are ſome of the many miſeries that flow from ſuch a Conduct.
I ſhall not need to enlarge much in ſo plain a caſe. Give me leave to add two or three Conſiderations further, concerning thoſe Rulers in ſpecial that have been characterized in this Diſcourſe; and I come to the Application.
1. Conſider, Such Rulers will ſtudy and promote thoſe things that make for the Weal of their People; and in this regard are rich Bleſſings to them. It was for their ſake as well as his own, that Solomon in 2 Chron. 1.10. begg'd Wiſdom of God; Prudentiam Regitivam, that he might know to go out, and come in before his People. They know that for this end, God hath given them their Promotion, with all the advantages that attend it; and that unleſs they do accordingly improve it, they ſhall never be able to yield an account of the Price that is in their Hands; they eſteem the Salus Populi, the Publick Good, to be one of the Chief Subordinate Ends of Government; and that whoſever doth not faithfully endeavour the ſame, can never attain the Ultimate. And though the Lord hath advanced them above their Fellow Creatures, and made them Gods among (& in a ſence over) men; yet they will remember that they are Ministers for their Good; Rom. 13 4. And accordingly do whatſoever lies in their Power, that it may be advanced under their management; that if God bleſs them therein, they may live the Deſire of their People; their Deaths, whether Civil or Natural, be lamented; or their Memories Bleſſed.
2. Conſider, As they have the greatest Advantage to keep out, and to keep off Evil from their People; ſo they will diligently and vigorouſly improve it. They may do much (none more) to ſhut the Door againſt approaching Evil. And they will do as much as they can; eſpecially the greateſt Evil of Sin, which opens the Door to all the reſt they will conſcientiouſly oppoſe, not only by ſtrict Laws, and ſevere Puniſhments; but alſo, by labouring to be ſuch a Pattern of Piety themſelves, as ſhall be a powerful Incentive to the well-minded, and as great a dread to thoſe that are otherwiſe. And …ough when ſuch Rulers have done their beſt, … may be very heinous Tranſgreſſions among their People; yet they will endeavour that thoſe Tranſgreſſions ſhall remain perſonal; and not amount to publick Crimes▪ by being allowed of, or winked at. And when at any time the Wall of Gods Protection about a People is broken down, theſe are the Men to Stand in the Gap, to repair the Breach; and they may, by their Zeal for Gods Glory, ſeaſonably ſhewn, in a ſuitable Witneſs-bearing againſt the crying Sins that kindled the Lord's Anger, turn away his Wrath from ſuch a People. So did Phinehas. Numb. 25.7, 8.
3. Conſider. The ſucceſs of the moſt Excellent Forms of Government, and moſt ſuitable Laws, doth under God, mainly depend upon the Ability and Fidelity of thoſe that are in the Government. Which further ſhews ſuch as theſe to be exceeding great Bleſſings. Though there are diverſe Forms of Government lawful, and many Laws juſt in themſelves; yet all are not equally expedient for every People. As it is a great part of Prudence in Rulers, to know and conſider what is moſt fitting for, and what manner of Goverment and Laws is moſt accomodable to the State and Condi…ion of thoſe that are under them; ſo alſo it cont…ibutes not a little to the Happineſs of a People when they are under ſuch a Method of Government, and under ſuch Laws, as ſuit them in regard of their proper Circumſtances and Deſign. But yet, let all this be ſuppoſed of a People, it is all nothing, if ſuch Rulers as theſe I am ſpeaking of be wanting. If they that have the Sword of Juſtice in their Hands, want either Skill or Courage or Conſcience to manage it aright; the Government will ſoon become ineffectual, and the Law be but a dead Letter; which hath its Life and Power, from an honeſt and vigorous Execution of it. And whatever a Peoples Priviledges are, though▪ they have the beſt contrived Model of Government in the World, and Laws as ſuitable as can be made for them; yet if they that have the Rule of them, are not men of ſuch Principles as thoſe that have been mentioned, they will be miſerable notwithſtanding. Lamentable Inſtances of which do abound in the Chronicles of the Monarchies of Iſrael and Judah; which though they had a Body of Judicial Laws, compiled for them by God himſelf; yet, never any Common Weal, fuller of Fraud, Oppreſſion, Injuries, Violence, and Wickedneſs of all ſorts, (as the frequent complaints of the Prophets do teſtifie) than theſe were, when unable, or unfaithful Rulers had the Adminiſtration of thoſe Laws among them.
4. Conſider. The Lord by whom Princes rule and Nobles even all the Judges of the Earth, Prov. 8▪16. Doth warrant able and faithful Rulers to us, for Publick and great Bleſſings; and condemn others as the Cauſes of a Peoples ruine. What an honourable Character doth the Spirit of God give us, of Moſes, Joſhua and Samuel among the Judges? Of David, Solomon, Jehoſaphat (and ſome others) among the Kings? And what an everlaſting Brand of Infamy, the Scripture hath ſet upon thoſe Kings of Judah and Iſrael, that were not ſo qualified, as you have heard, is obvious to every one that reads the Chronicles of thoſe times with Obſervation.
To this therefore I ſhall add only theſe two or three Particulars, wherein you may ſee the Lord commending able and faithful Rulers to us as rich Bleſſings, and condemning others as ruinous.
1. It is recommended in Deut. 1.13. and Exod. 18.21. to all that have the liberty and power of Electing Civil Rulers, that in their deſignation of Perſons to Places of Authority, they ſhould have ſpecial regard to their being ſo qualified. And that which then contributed to the happineſs of a People, cannot now be thought to croſs it.
2. The Lord gives ſuch Rulers in Mercy to a People. In 2 Chron 9.8. It is ſaid concerning Solomon; Becauſe thy God Loved Iſrael▪ to eſtabliſh them for ever, therefore made he thee King over them, to do Judgment and Juſtice. It was a bleſſed Promiſe, that God ſupported his people with, when they were languiſhing under the miſeries of a Government, not regarding the Adminiſtration of Juſtice; That he would reſtore them Judges as at the firſt, and Counſellers as at the Beginning; Iſa. 1.26. i. e. ſuch as Moſes and Joſhua; David and Solomon. And when ſuch as theſe are removed from a People, their caſe is awful, and God threatens it as a ſore Judgment. Iſa. 3.1, 2.
3. God ſends other Rulers in wrath to a People. I gave thee a King in mine anger ſaith the Lord concerning Saul; Hoſ. 13.11. And again Iſa. 3.4. God threatens that People with this Curſe, I will give Children to be their Princes, and Babes ſhall rule over them. Dreadful are the conſequents of this mentioned in the next verſe. The people ſhall be oppreſſed every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: The Child ſhall behave himſelf proudly againſt the Ancient, and the baſe againſt the honourable. In a word, Violence and Inſolence will bear down all before them.
4. Able and Faithful Rulers have the Promiſe of God's Preſence and Bleſſing: Prov. 29.14. The King that faithfully judgeth the Poor, his Throne ſhall be eſtabliſhed for ever. 2 Chron 19 ult. Deal Couragiouſly, and the Lord ſhall be with the good. And God in bleſſing them, bleſſeth the whole People. When their methods are Prudent, their aimes Right, their endeavours Vigorous, their hearts Valiant, their hands Strong, and God is pleaſed to be Crowning them with Succeſs; the Publick will reap the benefit. It is ſaid, Judges 2.7. The People ſerved the Lord all the days of Joſhua. Joſhua faithfully endeavoured it, and God ſmiled upon his endeavours; God was with him, and the People flouriſhed in Piety and Proſperity: but it was not long after Joſhua…s Head was laid in the Grave, before they knew the difference.
The APPLICATION of the Doctrine may be, USE 1. By way of INSTRUCTION.
Learn hence.
1. That it is a ſignal token of the Divine Favour to a People, when they have ſuch men to rule over them. Their Promotion cometh not from the Eaſt or from the Weſt &c. Pſal. 75.6, 7. 'Tis God that ſets them up; and His Love is to be ſeen in it, and ought to be acknowledged.
2. What matter of humbling it is to a People, when ſuch are either denied unto them, or removed from them. When the Elders were ceaſed from the Gate, Lam. 5.14. The Prophet ſaith upon it. v. 16. The Crown is fallen from our Heads: when good men are taken away, it is a ſad Omen; but when ſuch good men, thus removed, were good Rulers too, it's much more ominous. Such loſſes are hardly repaired; therefore they are a Lamentation, and ſhall be for a Lamentation.
3. How much it concerns Rulers to be, and approve themſelves ſuch men; Strong Rods; as they would not be charged with the Ruining of their People. And, that being themſelves rich Bleſſings, they themſelves might be bleſſed both of God and men.
4. That, Thoſe that are Profeſſed Enemies to ſuch a Government as hath Strong Rods to rule, or to ſuch Rulers as theſe, are upon no Terms to be born withal. But I may not enlarge on theſe Particulars; the chief that I aim at in the Preſent Improvement of this Truth, ſhall be in two words farther.