A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 180 (Question 64 cont.)
SERMON CLXXX.
1. WE are now to paſs over to the conſideration of thoſe Orders which are ſpecially called Political: The former were more Prionte, theſe more Publick, and refer to the …ger Societies and Combinations of Men. For there are no ſorts of orderly Societies among Men, but what are under the obligation of mural Relative Duties. And here are Two ſorts of Relations, which may come under our Cog…ce; the one ariſeth from the Condition of Men, whom God's Providence ordereth to dwell in ſuch Societies; the other from the Order which God hath ſet up and appointed to be main… in ſuch Communities, for the well-go…ing and regulating of their Affairs; for … of which there are Precepts given in the Word of God; and may be a little enquired into.
[1.] THERE is that Relation & Order which ariſeth from the Condition of Men, whom God's Providence diſpoſeth of to dwell in ſuch So…ties. And that which I ſhall only inſiſt on, … which is more peculiarly taken notice of in the Holy Scriptures, is that which is grounded on Old Age and Youth. There are in all Places, ſome that are Aged, and others that are …g; and both of theſe of plenty are promis'd … a People whom God will bleſs, Zech. 8.4, 5. How, tho' there is not a ſpecial Relation betaken theſe, ſo as to give the one a right of Ju…ction over the other; yet from the Conation that each is in, there is a Civil Reſpect … from the one to the other; and God hath Commanded an agreeable Deference; and the light of Nature diſcovers it to he highly Rational, and the very Heathen Morality, have taker …otice of, & preſcribed Ruler concerning it. We may here only take a brief and general Account of this.
(1.) ANCIENT I…ns ought to carry it toward them that and …word Anger, ſo as to adorn their Age. Their whole Converſation ought to be ſuch as may Commend them to their Juniors, and command a venerable reſpect from them. They ſhould adorn their gray Hairs with thoſe Vertues which do every way become them. Tho' Age it ſelf hath a reſpect due to it, yet if it is not becomingly managed, it may be unhappily expoſed to Contempt: We therefore have that Obſervation of the Wiſe Man, Prov. 16.31. The hoary heed is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteouſneſs We have a ſummary Account of the Exemplary Vertues, which they ought to adorn their Lives withal, Tit. 2.2. That the aged men be ſober, grave, temperate, ſound in ſaith, in charity, in patience.
1. SOBER, or Vigilant: But it is frequently uſed for Sobriety; and that not only in reſpect of the Body but of the Mind. And it is not to be reſtrained to Meats, Drink, Apparel, for that comes afterward; but it comprehends the whole Department, and conſiſts in a vigilant Care to keep a guard upon all their Words and Carriages, that they do not exceed the bounds of Sobriety; not bragging of themſelves, or allowing themſelves in any manner of Exceſs.
2. GRAVE. The Word ſignifies one of a Modeſt, ſeemly and venerable Carriage: The Word is tranſlated Honeſt, Phil. 4.8. But it properly ſignifies a well compos'd Carriage, ſuch as may command Reſpect from others: an is oppoſed to that which is light, and frothy, and jocular: And nothing more unbecoming Old Age, than juvenile Levity; and is as ominous as Flowers in December, and greatly Prejudiceth Youth.
3. TEMPERATE. The Word ſignifys one that keeps his Mind; and is often uſed for Sobriety in general, and is comprehended in that; but becauſe in nothing are Men more endangered to loſe the uſe of their Underſtanding, then in Exceſs in Dringking, it is often reſtrained to that; and though it's comprized in the firſt, and therefore the Greeks had a feaſt which they called foreign, becauſe no Wine was drank in it; yet the Apoſtle puts it in, becauſe it is a vice that Old Men are too eaſily allured to, under pretence of Age & Infirmity, which needs Relief; and there is nothing more ſcandalous than an Old Drankard.
4. SOUND in Faith, in Charity, and in Patience: i. e. to carry themſelves ſo, as to give all poſſible demonſtration of their Soundneſs in theſe Graces, by the exerciſe of the Duties which refer to them. The word Sound in a Metaphor taken from the Health of the Body; and it intends Sincerity, which is Evangelical Integrity; and theſe' Three Graces comprehend under them, the whole of a Chriſtian's Life: By ſoundneſs in Faith we are to underſtand, adhering to the Doctrines or Truths of the Chriſtian Religion, without wavering; holding faſt the foundation, and not ſuffering themſelves to be impoſed on, and led away with every wind of Doctrine, to be able to ſay as Paul, 2 Tim. 4.7 I have ſought a good fight, I have finished my courſe, I have kept the ſaith. By ſoundneſs in Charity is intended, firmneſs in New-Obedience, which is called Charity or Love; and is to be the diſcovery of a ſincere Faith, Gal. 5.6. And it comprehends in it, all the Duties required in both the Tables of the Moral Law; to be faithful and conſtant in the Duties of Worſhip towards God, and Righteouſneſs towards Men; and therein to give an Example of a Sober, Honeſt and Godly Life, to the Riſing Generation. And by ſoundneſs in Patience is to be underſtood, a ſubmiſſive and chearful bearing of all ſorts of Afflictions, which they meet, and to which Old Age is incident. And herein they are to go before the Younger, that they may ſee the ſhine of theſe things in them, and learn by them, and be poſſeſs'd with a ſuitable Veneration of them; and ſet before them a convincing demonſtrative of the reality of the Chriſtian Religion.
(2.) It is the Duty of Tounger Perſons to pay to the Aged, a reſpective and ſubmiſſive Carriage. And this is to be paid to them both in Words and Geſtures: And there is a proportionable decorum to be obſerved in this, according to their Age; and this is peculiarly to be obſerved by ſuch as are in their Minority; tho' there is a deference to be had to it, in the ſeveral diſtributions that are given of the Ages of Men: And here we may obſerve,
1. THAT there is a reſpect dus to Old Age for it ſelf. It is a general Rule under this Fifth Command, that whatſoever Order God hath put Men in, there is a Duty incumbent on the Correlate, which ariſeth from the Order it ſelf; tho' Perſons will better deſerve Acknowledgment in it, if they carry it according to the Will of God in that Order; yet for the ſake of it, and as long as they bear it, it is not to be neglected: Tho' in ſome Orders which Perſons are put into by Conſent and Contract, Men may forfeit both the Order and the Honour belonging to it: But Old Age is a thing which ariſeth not from Men's Choice, but God's Providence, and carries in it a dark adumbration of God's Eternity, who therefore ſtiles himſelf, the Ancient of Days, Dan. 7.9. That is therefore given as a Precept, referring to Old Age it ſelf, Lev. 19.32. Thou ſhalt riſe up before the boary bead, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the Lord. Under which Expreſſions are comprized many particular things. To be ſure, beſides an inward Reſpect, (Without which all outward Reverence is but a Mockery,) there is an external Behaviour by which our acknowledgment of their Years is to be paid: And to this belongs Children's riſing up to them, and ſtanding uncoverd in their Preſence; hearkning to them when they ſpeak to them, and giving them reſpectful Anſwers; bearing wick their Infirmities, and not inſulting over them.
2. WHERE Old Age and Piety are …er … any, there is a great Regard to be had to ſuch venerable Antiquity. And here I ſhall only mention Three things;
1. THEIR Grave Diſcourſes are obſero… to be bearkard unto. Not that we are to … our Faith upon it; but we may expect fi… ſuch to have well weighed and experima… things communicated to us: Younger … therefore ought to allow them the liberty & Communicating themſelves, and not inver… them, as thinking themſelves Wiſer. … Old Men in their talk; he attended dilig… ly, and tarried till they had done, Job … 6, 7, 11, 12. If therefore at any time we … ſent from them, it ſhould be with great … deſty of Expreſſion.
2 THEIR Counſel is to be asked in …ers of great moment. Men of Years and Obſervation, are moſt ſit to give ſound Advice, whoſe Experience bath greatly encreaſed their Practical Knowledge, and whoſe Years have brought their Judgments to more of ſtayedneſs and ſolidity. For Young Perſons to conſide in their own Fanſies, is folly and arrogance; and for them to relinquiſh the Ancient, and apply to thoſe that are their Contemporatries argues Contempt and forebodes Miſchief; this was Reb-boam's Ruin, 2 Chron. 10.8.
3. THEIR good Example is to be acknowledged and imitated. God hath made it them Duty to ſet a Pattern of every Vertue before the Younger, who are to bleſs God for them, and to be followers of them, both while they are alive, and when they are dead, as we are exhorted, Heb. 6.12. This therefore is … advice the wiſe Man gave to his Son, Prov. 2.20. That thou mayſt walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous. And if there were more of this ſpirit in our Young Ones, the Apoſtacy would not make ſuch ſinful advances, as it doth among us, while the preſent Generation decries the holy Zeal of their Anceſtors, pretending to know more than the Ancients.
[2] WE paſs over to the Conſideration of that Order which God bath ſet up, and appointed to be maintained in ſuch Societies, for the wallgoverning and regulating of their Affairs. Now theſe Societies come under a double conſideration, viz. Civil and Sacred; the one reſering to the Govemment of the Comman-…, the other of the Church.
CONCERNING both of theſe, we may in general obſerve, that the Power or Authority which ſome have over others; and the conſequent Subjection which thoſe orthers owe to them, Perſonally confidered, doth not der… Naturally but Providentially: Nevertheleſs, the Light of Nature or right Reaſon, will abundantly tell us, that whereſoever there are Societies of Men, made ſo, either occaſional, or by Combination, there muſt be Order; And when conſider the State into which Mankind are fallen by reaſon of the Apoſtacy, this Neceſſity is augmented, becauſe elſe all would certainly run into Confuſion, and end in …: And tho' the good Succeſs of this depends in the over-ruling Influence of God, yet he …eth His Ordinary Providence in the way it Me…. Now theſe Societies are Civil or …tical; and becauſe there is a great diſ… between theſe two in more reſpects than … it is neceſſary that they be conſidered ſe…ly and diſtinctly.
1. A Civil Society is a Combination of Men, for the carrying on of their Temporal or Secu… Concerns for the outward Felicity or well…ing of the whole, and every part of it: In the Ma…tration whereof, there is neceſſarily ſupp… a Civil Government; and conſequently, … are to Govern, and ſuch as are to be Gom…. And here alſo it may be enquired;
Queſt. WHTHER Civil Government … conſiſtent with the So are of P…grity? Nor ſo this Caſe ſo eaſily reſolved, as that which … formerly moved, concerning the State of … inaſmuch as that is apparently the … of the Courſe; whereas that of Civil Subj… ſeem not to be ſo, tho' the diſorder which … hath brought in it, hath too much rendr…d it ſo eventually. I ſhall only here obſerve more generally,
1. THAT Civil Humane Societies have their …ſe & reaſon from the Nature of Man: Some therefore have thought it a good comprehenſive Deſcription of Man, that he is …. Man … made a Sociable Creature; and hath a …d diſpoſition to hold Converſe with …s on …: Nor doth this inclination ariſe, meerly ſoon the neceſſity of his lapſed Eſtate for …d ſupport and defenſe, though that hath …ned the neceſſity of it; but it was put into the Conſtitution of Man, and he ſought it, … only by Inſtinct, as Brutes do with their …; …ut the Exerciſe of Reaſon, and the con…tion of the Relations which God at firſt … …ed between Mankind, and the Affecti… into them towards their Correlates therein it is therefore a bruitiſh opinion of thoſe, the would have Men, if their Integrity had …ed, to have lived in the Fields & Woods that the manner of Wild Beaſts, whereas it is …t that Men do ſeek familiarity with ſuch when they have the leaſt neceſſity for.
2. THAT the Order of Superiority, and In…rity, was well enough conſiſt…s with Man's …uct State at firſt. God did therefore put Mankind into ſuch an Order, as ſoon as he made him, and gave him with it the Law of …d Government. The Fifth Command …, as well as any other, a Precept of the Moral Law, and engraven upon Men's Hearts; and that, not mealy as a reſerve, after Relief againſt the Miſery of his fallen State, but for his Practice in his State of Uprightneſs. The Order of Huſband and Wife took Place as ſoon as …od had made Man Male and Female, and …ght them together: And had they continue in that Eſtate to have had Children, the …ies of that Relation would have been actually incumbent on them. Nay, the different degrees in Glory, are no obſtruction at all, to the Perfection of the bleſſedneſs of every one of the Saints.
3. HAD Man abode in his Primitive State, there would have been always ſome naturally Super…ours to others. If Adam had lived till this Day, he would have been the Head of till his Poſterity, and they would have owed to him, a fi…able Subjection; and it Families deſcending had gone forth to People other Places, there would have been the ſame Relation between the Father of ſuch a Family, and all the Deſoendents from him; for this natural Relation would not have ceaſed, nor the Duties depending on it.
4. AS Man's Happineſs could not be impeded, ſo God's, Glory might be Celebrated by Civil Others. A well ordered Government hath in it an Adumbration of God's Governing the World; and tho' there were no need of it to reſtrain Men's Luſts, yet it might tend to the Ornament of the Univerſe, and be a trial of our Obedience to this Precept: And we have good footing in the Word of God, that God hath placed an Order between the very Angels of Light. And it is Rational to conclude, what as the World had began to be Peopled, there would of neceſſity have been a multiplying of Civil Societies, and theſe diſtinct, for the upholding of Civil Commere… & Amity. They are therefore in a great Error, who tell us, that ſo many Kingdoms or Common wealth as there are in the World, ſo many Teſtimonies of Divine Diſpleaſure; for tho' ſome of the Reaſon of the Neceſſity of it are ſo, yet Government it ſelf is not.
TOUCHING the Moral Neceſſity of Civil; Government, with reſpect to Man's ſinful State ſince the Fall, it is evident from Human Reaſon, and Philoſophy pleads for it by Arguments fetch's from this Topick, as being ignorant of any other State of Mankind Antecedent to it: So that the Precepts given for it in the Word of God, are not purely Poſitive or Inſtituted; but are built upon Moral Principles, and are all of them reducible to One Head, viz. The deep intereſt which a Civil Happineſs hath in it. And tho' Man's Corruptions have too often abuſed it to a contrary iſſue, yet the blame of that is not in Government it ſelf, but in the Inſtruments by whom it is managed; and it is Frequently a Judgment with which God puniſheth the grievous Provocations given Him by a ſinful people: Hence that, Hoſ. 13.11. I gave thee a king to may anger, and took him away in my wrath. But if it were not for this, there would be no living together for Mankind, but Humane Societies muſt diſtand; Murders, Adulteries, Rapine, and all manner of Oppreſſions would rage; and there would be leſs of Order in the Habitable World, than in Hell it ſelf. God indeed is able to Curb in the Luſts of Men, but he hath ſeen meet to uſe and appoint Means for the promoving it, in and with which He doth Co-operate: And among theſe, that of Civil Government is none of the leaſt: And hence all the Powers are ſaid to be of him, Rom. 13.1. Prov. 5.15, 16. And it is noted as a Judgment upon Iſrael, when there was no King in Iſrael, and Men did what they pleaſed, and an inlet to great Tragedies, Jugd. 17.6, 18.1.
AS to the Form of Civil Government, there is no …e that is determinately fixed upon in the Word of God, to be a common Rule obliging all Communities, to take their Meaſure by; but it is a Prudential, and to be wiſely accommodated to the Genius of the Place, and the beſt probability of attaining of the great End, and the well-being of the whole: And the ſorts of it are Three, viz. Monarchy, Ariſtocracy, and Democracy. within which bounds all ought to keep it; ſo that it neither degenerate to Tyranny on the one hand, nor to Anarchy on the other, either of which is directly ſubverſive of the Ends of Government, and is the Miſery of a People which are under them.
AS to the ſo much Controverted Queſtion which of theſe Forms is beſt? If the Enquiry, be only, which is ſo in it ſelf? it is meerly Theoretical, and more nice than profitable: But if it intend, which it ſo practically? or with reſpect to the People among whom it is erected and eſtabliſhed, it cannot be abſolutely and univerſally determined; inaſmuch as there are differing Circumſtances, which may render the one moſt accommodable for this People, and another, for-that; and there is none of them that will be without it's Inconveniencies and hazards, whilſt it is managed by Men, the beſt of whom labour of Sin and folly. Tho's it hath been generally thought, that one that is well tempered of all Three, is beſt ſuited, to maintain Government, in it's due bounds.
IF Enquiry be made concerning the Right of Government; or how the Power of Adminiſtration comes to be devolved upon theſe Perſons, rather than others: This alſo is as difficult to determine as the former. If we ſpeak of it, de facto, the Cuſtoms and fundamental Conſtitutions of Nations are various; and tho' there are general Rules for it in the Word of God, and to be gathered from the light of right Reaſon; yet the particular and perſonal determination of it is various. God indeed fixed the ſupream Government of the Kingdom of Iſrael, in the Houſe of David, which was Typical; but He made it not a ſtated Rule for all the Kingdoms and Common. Wealths in the World: It may therefore be by Succeſſion, or by Election, in either of which God Over-rules, either for the Felicity or Penalty of a People.
IN general, all this is founded in Compact, nor can Conqueſt it ſelf come to a fixation, ſo as to eſtabliſh a well-ordered Government, till there be a Combination: However, then is a Government truly Happy, when it's Rulers are ſitted and ſpirited for their Poſt: Hence that, Ecol. 10.16, 17.
TOUCHING the Rule by which Civil Government is to be adminiſtred, it ought not to be Arbitrary, nor can the Condition of the l…t of fallen Men bear it; but it is to be… wholeſome and juſt Laws. For it is the Duty of all Rulers to do Juſtice and Judgment as we ſhall afterwards conſider; and … cannot be, but where there are fixed and … bliſhed Laws, by the Execution whereof Men… Rights are to be upheld, and all Iniquity and Unrighteouſneſs to be born witneſs againſt. And out of doubt, there was a Moral R…a… in that Stature which God made for the … of Iſrael, Deut. 17.18, 19. And it ſhall be … be ſitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that ſhall write him a copy of this law in a book … of that which is before the Priests the Levi… And it ſhall be with him, and be ſhall read that in all the days of his life: that be may … fear the Lord his God, to keep all the … of this law, and theſe ſtatures to do them.
BUT I come to a more particular conſi… ration of the mutual Duties belonging to this Order among Mankind. Now the Corr… here are the Rulers and Rulod, or Magiſ… and Subject: And as this is a Relation which God Himſelf hath ordained, and place between Men; ſo there are the D…ties inco… … on either Party, which ariſe from … very Nature of the Relation; and about w… Directions are given to us in the Holy Se… tures. For to ſuppoſe one of the Correlat… to be under. Obligation, and the other to be… entire Liberty, is contrary to the very End … Deſign of all the Relations which God … put Men in, one towards another. As th… f…e, it is a Sin in the Subject to deny or wh… hold his ſubjection to Rulers, whom God… in His Providence ſet over him; ſo it is no … Sin in the Ruler, to neglect or perve… … Adminiſtration of Government, which i…y the good and benefit of the Subject.
NOW as in this Order of Men, they are diſtributed into Governours, and Goverment ſo there are divers Ranks and Orders … thoſe who ſhare in the Ruling a … Hence that diſtribution, 1 Tim. 2.2. King… all in Authority. 1 Pet. 2.13, 14. Kings & Governours, &c. And the Adminiſtation of ordinate Miniſters and Officers in Power … in regard of the Legiſlative and Executive … of it, who tho's Subject to their Superions … Power, yet have a Superiority in … of others; and the meaneſt Civil Officer h…s claim to this, according to the Authority … veſted withal. But I ſhall not take thoſe … der, but only in general give Account of the general Duties …required by this Command, on both parts.
[OCTOBER 19. 1703.]