A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 183 (Question 64 cont.)
SERMON CLXXXIII.
(III.) THEY ought to take utmoſt care for the Peace and Safety of the Subject. This therefore is one thing on account whereof we are to Pray for Rulers; 1 Tim. 2.2. The Civil Peace and Tranquillity of a People, is, next to the true Religion, the greateſt Bleſſing they can enjoy in this Life. Now it peculiarly belongs to Civil Rulers, to take Care for the upholding of this, by ordering and governing all Affairs which refer to it. It is none of the leaſt Miſchiefs brought in by Man's Fall, that Mankind are filled with a Spirit of Diſcord, whereupon they are ready upon all occaſions to Quarrel; and their Contention to break out into open Hoſtility, which brings in all manner of Miſeries. Now theſe Controverſies are either Perſonal & Private, for the remedying or preventing whereof, the Two former Rules do ſerve; or more Publick, in which a People may be involved and expoſed to War, in which Oppreſſion and Ruin are threatned. So that the matter under our preſent conſideration, refers to the management of the Affairs of War and Peace; which being an Affair that requires the moſt prudent Conduct muſt needs come under the Regulation of Civil Authority.
NOW there are Two ſorts of Wars, by which the Tranquillity of a People may be undermined, Inteſtine and Foreign; for the preventing, or well-compoſing whereof, great endeavours are to be uſed, in which the ſincere Affection of the Rulers to their Subjects will be proved.
AND here, that Queſtion about the Lawfulneſs of War, is proper to be handled, rather than under the Eighth Command, inaſmuch as the thing it ſelf belongs to Civil Government, and is under the Regulation of Rulers; but it is a thing ſo unreaſonable to deny it, or ſo much as to doubt of it, that it is hardly worth the while to diſpute of it.
WAR is uſually diſtinguiſhed into Defenſive and Offenſive. As to the former, viz. Defenſive, when we are to ſtand on our own Guard, to ſave our ſelves from an injurious Invader, and to repel Force with Force. Self-Preſervation is a Principle ſo cloſely rivetted in to the Nature of the Creatures, that it is unnatural to doubt of the Lawfulneſs of it; and to chuſe rather to ſuffer all manner of Violence and Oppreſſion, than to ſtand on our Defence, and reſiſt an injurious Adverſary, is to forego Reaſon it ſelf: Nor can ſuch a People expect long to enjoy the Liberties, which God hath beſtowed on them a Right unto; but muſt look to be made a Prey by others, and enſlaved by them. It is true, the actual Neceſſity of this is brought in by Man's Sin; but as the Caſe ſtands, ſince the Apoſtacy, there is no Living in ſuch a World as this is without it; nor will thoſe Scriptures which Caution us againſt private Revenge, make ought againſt it.
NOR can a Defenſive War be managed without that which is in a ſenſe Offenſive; for we cannot ſave our ſelves in it, unleſs we offer Violence to thoſe that A…a…l us.
BUT as to that which is p…cula…ly called Offenſive, i. e. When we are the Aggreſion there may be a more ſeeming pretence for the Unlawfulneſs of it; tho' it is but ſeeming, inaſmuch as there may be ſuch Affronts and Invocations offered by an Adverſary, before … breaks forth into open Hoſtility, as may neceſſitate it; and the Safety and Tranquillity of a Government, cannot be ſecured without it: which, what they are, may after be conſidered: And tho' Vengeance belongs to God; yet in ſuch Caſes, God hath betruſted Magiſt… to Act in His Authority; and hence they are called Revengers, Rom. 13.4. And for this Reaſon they are called the Shields of the …, Pſal. 47.9.
WE may here then conſider their Duty, i… regard of the ſorts of War firſt mentioned.
AND that,
(1.) WITH reſpect to the Tranquillity of the Subject, againſt the miſchief of Inteſ…ne Wars, i. e. Such as breed in the Bowels of the Government, and are moſt pernicious; and their Duty in this Affair, comes under Two Heads,
1. THEY ought to uſe all prudent Endevours to prevent ſuch Troubles. And that is to be done, by Antedating the Cauſes of th…; and theſe Cauſes are rooted in the diſ… entertained by the Subjects, againſt the Ad… ſtration of the Government, in which wiſe Rulers will take Care, as far as they can, that there be no ſuch Occaſions offered; or if there be, ſeaſonably to remove them. All Opp… will raiſe diſquiet in Men's minds, Eccl. ….…. Now the Subject may be oppreſſed, either in their Liberties, or Eſtates, or by the Injuſtice of Miniſters, and when either of theſe … them, they will wince: Rulers therefore ought in Prudence as well as Conſcience, to take effectual Care, that the People's juſt Liberties be defended; that no heavy & unreaſonable … be impoſed on them, and that all publick Officers be kept within due bounds. And if at any Time Diſcontents ariſe and ſpread, they ſhould carefully endeavour to lay them; and if there have been any thing juſtly grievous offered to their People, to remove it out of the way, and by gentle Treatments to compoſe them, before they break out. It was a piece of Wiſe Counſel the Old Men gave to R…h…m, 1 Kings 1….7. Which if he had hearkned to, he might have prevented the Rupture which followed upon his forſaking of it.
2. THEY ought to conſult the common God of the People, in the ſuppreſſing of ſuch Inſurrections. They cannot always be prevented; there are for the moſt part, ſome turbulent Spirits that love to Fiſh in troubled Waters, who are ready to blow up a ſpark of Diſcontent into a flame, and ſo raiſe Civil Wars in the heart of a Government; and it is incumbent on the Rulers to withſtand them, and the Welfare of the Subject is concerned in it. But there is great Caution and Moderation to be uſed in the Application: Severity ought at ſuch a time, to be reſtrained to the Ringleaders of ſuch Factums, and all gentle offers and treatments made to the reſt, remembring, that the waiting of the Subjects is a weak…ing of the Government; and extream Rigour will but ſtr…ng then the Rebellion, whereas a general … and Amneſty, will tend to make the Cement the ſtronger and more durable. It was a … Speech and Carriage of Joab, in that Civil Repture. 2 Sam. 20.21. A man of mount … (… the ſon of … by name) hath … up his hand againſt the king, even againſt … : deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. And an imitable Policy in David to quiet the People, after Abſa…am's Rebellion, Chap. 1… 14, &c.
(2.) WITH reſpect to the Tranquillity of the Subject againſt the evil of Foreign War. It its thing too frequent for Neighbouring Governments to fall out, and come to open Hoſtility one with another, whereon not a little …ſery enſues. And this proceeds either from the Pride and Ambition of Rulers, or the unjuſt Carriages of the Subject; and uſually both of theſe meet, in order to an Eruption. Here alſo i… great Duty lying on Rulers who would conſult the Civil Happineſs of their People, which i… uphold by Peace, and interrupted by War.
HERE then,
1. THEY ought to uſe all due endeavours to … the Subject from the Miſery of War: … what in them lies, to m…nain the Peace … Government. He ſaid too much, who thought that the moſt Unjuſt Peace is preferrible to the moſt Juſt War: There are Times … God calls his People to take up the Sword; … doth the Goſpel-Day diſcharge them from it: However, War is not to be taken up for every ſlight occaſion; hence that, Prov. 20.18. … good advice make war. For this reaſon they ought to avoid the giving of Provocation … their Neighbours, or take occaſion from every … or Circumſtance, to pick Quarrels. It is a miſerable thing for a People to be laid … to all the Infelicities of War, only for the … or Pride of a few Men; they ought to … …ent with their own, and not Injuriouſly … invade the Dominion of others.
2. THEY ought in Times of Peace, to make … Preparation for War. They ſhould not, … a vain Preſumption, Laiſt like, live at …, in a turpid Security and Neglect; this is a pr…voke Men, whoſe Covetouſneſs and Am… is ready for ſuch an Enterprize, to make i…ds upon them; whereas to be always in a …eſs, is a Rational way to prevent it, and reſerve quietneſs, as well as to be provided for the worſt, if it ſhould fall out. It was a prudent Advice of Aſa to his People, and well becoming a Father of his Country, 2 Chron. 14.6, 7, 8. It is a preſumptuous thing for any to ſay, our Defence is in God, and upon i…, to do … in the uſe of Means, to provide for their … Safety; for true Faith directs to the uſe of paper Means, to obtain the End deſired.
3. THEY ought to vindicate the Affronts and …ries offered their Perſons or Subjects. Not that every ſlight Injury ſhould be inproved to the height: but when they are …; lent, it is Lawful and a Duty, ſo far to our… them, as any Advantage is offered them. Doubtleſs David had a juſt Quarrel with the Amm…nites, for their abuſe they offered his Ambaſſadors, 2 S…m. 10.7. And when Neighbouring People Rob, or Pillage, and make inroads upon them, it is their Duty to take up Arms to repel them: For they cannot do it in a courſe of Civil Juſtice, but if requires ſuch a way as this; and therefore the Courſe which J…ptha… took againſt the A…ri…es, Judg. 11. was Juſt and Warrantable.
4. THEY ought in Offenſive War, firſt to offer the fair …erms for Peace. Such War cannot lawfully be made, but upon Provocation given; for without it, the Aggreſſor muſt needs be Guilty: But the common Love to Mankind, the Miſchief which the Subject will be expoſed to the hazard of, the uncertainty of the Iſſue, do all of them require, that it ſhould be the laſt Eſſay. God himſelf therefore, (tho' for a ſpecial Reaſon He exempted the Seven Nations of Cana…n, yet in regard of others. He) gave that Law to Iſrael, …eut. 20.10, &c. When thou comest nigh unto a …iry to ſight againſt it, them proclaim peace unto it.— And herein Jepthah payed Obedience to that Law, when he went forth againſt the Children of Ammin, in that he firſt Expoſtulated with them Judg. 11.10, &c.
5. THEY ought to make War, with a regard to Peace. It is their Duty to maintain a placable Spirit; then, when they are put upon it to ſhew the moſt ſevere expreſſions of Hoſtility. There is neceſſarily a great deal of Severity to be ſhewn in bloody Battles, and Depopulations, which are the unavoidable Effects of War; but it ought ever to be tempered with Humanity. It was the Charge which the Prophet laid to Iſrael, when they had the better of the Jews, 2 Chron. 28.9. Behold, becauſe the Lord God of your fathers was wrath with Judah, be hath delivered into your hand, and ye have ſlain them in a rage that reacheth up unto heaven. It looks like a bloody Diſpoſition, to draw the Sword, and throw the Scabbard away, (as one words it,) i. c. To reſolve the utmoſt Cruelty. To ſlay Women and Children in cool Blood, is a thing which ordinarily will admit of no excuſe. The End of War is to ſubdue an inſulting Adverſary, and to procure for themſelves Safety from their Oppreſſions; and not to lay the World waſte, and to fill Places with nothing but images of Horror and Deſolation.
AND theſe are the principal things whichly upon Civil Rulers in reſpect to War.
(IV.) THEY ought to take Care to promove the outward Proſperity of their People. This indeed is one thing that belongs to, or comes under the Making of Good Laws, and ſeeing to the juſt Execution of them; but it hath a peculiar Conſideration in it, and may therefore come under a diſtinct Head: And if they are Fathers indeed, they will deſire, conſult, and take …e…ight in the Wealth of their Subjects; and indeed, in ſo doing, they do provide for their own Grandeur. And for this end it is their Duty to encourage all Honeſt Callings, which are the way to Proſperity; and to remove ſuch Blocks and diſcouragements as are wont to give Check thereto. And here,
1. BY maintaining of Men's Properties: By all means ſecuring and preſerving of Men's Rights from being invaded, and being diſpoſed of Arbitrarily without Law. Not but that every Man, according to his Ability, owes a due Proportion to the Support of the Government, whereof he is a Member, (as will afterwards be conſidered;) but it is fitting, that every Man ſhould be able to call his Eſtate his own, and have the diſpoſal of it according to Equity. This is the way to promote Induſtry, which is the readieſt courſe to get Wealth, in the Ordinary Providence of God, (Prov. 10.4) for every Man naturally ſeeks Advantage by what he doth, the Proſpect whereof ſtimulates him to uſe Induſtry.
2. BY taking effectual Courſes, that Idleneſs be prevented. It is God's Command, that every Man ſhould have a Lawful Calling, and he Diligent in it; and it is incumbent on Rulers to take Care that Men ſo do: It is the Precept in, 2 Theſ. 3.10. That if any would not work, neither ſhould he eat. Idle Perſons are Drones, that Live upon the Honey, but make none, and ſhould be driven from the Hive, i. e They are duly to be Puniſhed: Where Idle Vagrants abound, Poverty will come on ſuch. Places as an arm'd Man. It is true, ſome God Providentially diſableth from Labour; and for ſuch, Care ought to be taken; but when Men can, and will not Labour, they ſhould be conſtrained to it. Hitherto belongs the Care that is to be uſed, that Children be ſeaſonably put out to Learn ſome honeſt Calling, and not ſuffered to go about the Streers, from Door to Door, Hegging or Stealing: and if Parents are ſo Brutiſh as to neglect them, the Civil Authority ought to diſpoſe of them. Hitherto alſo belongs the preventing or ſuppreſſing of ſuch things as are the occaſions of Idleneſs, and needleſs Expence, viz. Private Houſes of Entertainment, where Perſons ſpend their Time and Money; and Dearn all manner of Immoralities; as alſo, the unneceſſary and imprudent multiplying of Publick Houſes, where ſo much of precious Time is ſpent, to no profit, but loſs; where Drinking and Gaming exhauſts Men's Subſtance, and brings ill Habits upon them, and to allow this, under pretence of giving decayed Perſons an Opportunity to Support themſelves, is the way to Ruin a great many for the Maintenance of one; and is therefore a thing cried out of, in all well ordered Governments.
3. BY a due Witneſs born againſt Thefts and Robberies. Where theſe abound, a People are Impoveriſhed, and Men diſheartned in their Employments. Care ought therefore to be uſed to prevent them; and when they are detected, there ought a Terror be put upon others, as well as a Teſtimony born againſt them.
AS to that Care, whether … may be junt…ed with Death? I ſhall only obſerve, that we conſidered before, that Penal… are t… be ſuited to the Pub…ck Safety: And therefore the Judicial Law of … doth not … Lawgivers in this, but the Publick Nece… is to determine: Nevertheleſs, there ought to be a difference made, in the kind and … gree of Theft; and Neceſſity is not to … pretended Unneceſſarily; and it looks in … ſelf, as if there were a diſproportion between Life, and the outward things of it: Be… that is an Obſervation which ſome have muſt viz. That it is experienced, that there a… fewer Robbeties committed in ſuch Phi… where ſome more eaſy Puniſhments are … fficted, than where Theft is puniſhed … Death; and that it hath rather hardned the terrified ſuch as have fallen into this un… p Courſe, and rendred them deſperate Word ever, it is certain, that ſuch are in-offer … in a Civil State; and the Proſperity and … ty of the whole, requires, that they be vi… rouſly ſuppreſt.
(V) THEY ought in all things, to ſet be Example of Righteouſneſs and Holineſs before their People. We obſerved, that the gi… End of Civil Government, is to preſerve … the Tables of the Moral Law, which. God hath betruſted all theſe withal, to whom … vil Aut…ry is committed: And the Re… is, becauſe they are ordained of God for this End, and Rule for him; as he ſaid, 2 … 19.6. Take Beed what ye do: for ye judged… for man but for the Lord. And altho' they … ſet over Men, yet are they God's Serv… and as much under the obligation of Oy… ence to Him, as the meaneſt Subject, … which account, they have no more Libe… … clear themſelves to tranſgreſs the good … righteous Laws of God, which ought to a … Pattern of all their Laws, than any other … are equally obnoxious to God's Diſpleaſ… Nay, Their Tranſg…e…lion is in many reſpect aggravated on account of the high … which they are advanced unto; they are … of greater Ingratitude to God, who … Honoured them with Preferment, and p… … them an Image of His Authority, which is hereby deſpiſed; and the Name of God … more eminently from them, if they vi… His Precepts, inaſmuch as they are more … th… light and obſerved. David's Sin is ſo … gravated, 2 Sim. 12.14. By this deed that … given great occaſion to the enemies of the Lord … blaſpheme. And their Example is more … ſpicuous and influ…ntial. The Poet could fry Regis ad Exemplum, &c. The Practice of Rolers is like to be a Pattern which many will lay before themſelves, and will more readly follow it, than the Laws. It will be cain therefore to make Laws, and put ſevere Sa… tions to them, if they prove Cob-webs, … great ones, or Men in Power, can break the… when they pleaſe: Nor indeed will Ru…s have the Courage to ſee that good Laws be duly Executed upon Offenders, if they themſelves do live in the violation of them; and …ill expoſe themſelves to the greater Contempt, if they ſhould eſſay to put them in Execution, in much, as they herein make it to appear, that they do not pay a real reſpect to the Laws themſelves.
WHEREAS, on the other hand. If they ſet agai… Example, and do practically pay a deference their wholeſome Edicts, by a carefull Conformity of themſelves thereunto, they will g…ly encourage thoſe that are Honeſt, and Good, and gain great Love and Reſpect from them; and will put a greater Terror upon thoſe that are Vicious, and have no good Principle … Obedience in them, as expecting not to Eſcape the ſuffering of the Civil Cenſures, in … they come under the Cognizance: And this …ill alſo encourage them with the greater C…ddence in all their Adminiſtration, and make than the more impartial, and ſtop the Mouths of all that would otherwiſe be apt to Cenſure the…. It was to Men in Authority that the Apoſtle is ſuppoſed to give that Reprimand, Rom. 2.22. T… that ſayeſt a man ſhould … conmit adultery, doſt th… commit admitery? th… that abb…rre…i ide's, doſt then commit ſa…ri…dge? Whereas, It was a good Argument of C…viction, that Nebemiah uſed with them, …eb 5.10. It was for this reaſon that God commanded, that the King himſelf ſhould write a Copy of the Law, and keep it by him, Dens. 17.18.19. It is therefore a token of Gods Kindneſs and good Will to a People, when He belows ſuch upon them in the Magiſtracy; and ſeth, that becauſe he loved His People, He give them ſuch to bear Rule over them, who are Wiſe & Faithful, and ſtudy by all means to whence the Glory of God, and the Welfare of the Subject in all things. And God is to be acknowledged in it, and praiſed for it, for it is by Him that Men are ſet up, whoſoever be the …ments of it. As on the other hand, it is a Argument of His Wrath, when there are thoſe given to them, who regard not Righteouſneſſ but are themſelves Wicked, and Oppreſſ… and do either by Example or Connivance enourage Leud Men, and ſuffer Leudneſs and …idence to prevail; it being both it ſelf a Judgment, and opens a door to let in more and are fearful Fruits of God's holy Revenge.
LET us then pray hard to Him, who is the God of the Spirits of all fleſh, that he would always ſet over the Congregation of His People, ſuch Men to go out and come in before them, who ſhall, like David, lead them with the Integrity of their hearts, and Skilfullneſs of their …ds; who ſhall Judge uprightly, and walk in their Integrity; that ſo Juſtice may go down our …ets as a Flood, and Righteouſneſs as a River. And let us Pieſs God for ſuch, as the precious Takens of His Benignity to us; and this be b…nbly Recommended to ſuch as are veſted with Civil Authority, as that which will be their Honour and Happineſs: God will thus teſtify to His Acceptance and Approbation of them, and all good Men will Love and Honour them; and thus will they be the repairers of our Breachs, and reſtorers of Paths to dwell in, and their Names ſhall be had in prec…us re…nbrance, when they are dead and gone; and after Generations will have cauſe to ſpeak of them with an honourable mention, and erect Mo… ments for them in their hearts, which ſhall outlaſt Marble it ſelf.
[JANUARY 11. 1703.]