Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
duty_n	according_a	king_n	law_n	1,830	5	4.8875	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A67550	The pious mans practice in Parliament time. Or A seasonable and necessary tractate concerning the presages, and causes of a common-wealths ruine, and the wayes, and meanes to preserve a church, and state, in prosperity, plenty, purity, and peace. By R. Ward, utriusque regni in Artibus Magister; and preacher of Gods holy word at Stansteed Mount-Fitchet in Essex.	Ward, Richard, 1601 or 2-1684.	1641 (1641)	Wing W804; ESTC R218413	102,562	298

Ad bene esse 2. The things necessary in Magistrates The duties required in Magistrates Ad esse absolute simply and absolutely or the more essentiall duties of Magistrates as Magistrates as Magistrates are these viz. 1. They keep their owne Lawes Zonarut Magistrates Governours ought to observe keep their own Lawes or to walke according to the Law The Kings of Persia shewed themselves more subject to Lawes then their Lord did And the Kings of Lacedemonia did monthly sweare to guide themselves according to the Lawes and the Ephory tooke an oath in the behalfe of the people to see it executed And Archemedes saith It is very requisite that Princes and Magistrates live according to that Law themselves which they would have others to regulate their lives by this being a principall means to make the people obedient thereunto the Common-wealth to flourish as appears by that saying of Agesilous who being asked whence it came to passe that the Common-Wealth of the Spartanes flourished above her other Nations answered quoniam plus caeteris in hoc sese exercent ut pariter imperare Plut. in Laton apophtheg parere sciant Because they are more carefull then others to obey their owne Lawes which they injoyne unto others Some may here demand Question if we the subjects bee subject to the Law and Kings and Magistates also subiect to the Law then what is the difference betweene the Kings and Magistrate subjection and ours A famous Moderne Divine answers hereunto thus Answer Weemes exercit upon com 5. lib. 2 exercit 12. p. 24. that Kings and Magistrates are subject to the directive part of the law but not to the coactive part of it The law is considered two manner of wayes viz. 1. As it is the rule of Iustice and the line by which both Magistrates and people should be governed and guided according to that saying of the Emperour Legibus solutus legibus tamen vivit Although hee were loosed from the coactive part of the Law yet hee was directed by and lived according to the Law And 2. The law is considered as an instrument which the Prince and Magistrates use for the ruling of the subiect Now if wee consider the law in the first sence then the Prince and Magistrate is subiect to it but consider the law as an instrument which Rulers and Governours use in Ruling of the people and in this sence they are not subiect therunto A blind man is lead by his servant Simile now so far as his servant leadeth him he is not his servant or his inferiour but consider that servant as an instrument serving his Master and then he is inferiour unto him and serveth him although he were never so sharpe sighted and therefore if Rulers and Magistrates desire indeed that the Common-wealth may bee well ordered and the people regulated according to the lawes of the land and made obedient thereunto then it is necessary that they themselves direct their lives by the law for as the Apostle saith how can a Magistrate say unto a subiect Thou shalt not Thou shalt not sweare when he himselfe is a blasphemers or Thoushalt not steale when himselfe is sacrilegious And 2. 2 They must execute the awes Magistates must observe and keepe the Lawes themselves so if they desire that the Sate may flourish and grow greene under their government then they must also execute the Lawes administer justice releeve and helpe the oppressed and punish the violaters of the Law As a Land cannot long last without Lawes so almost as good no Lawes as no execution of the Lawes For it is in a manner all one for Magistrates to make no Lawes and to execute no Lawes which are made Plato said that a Common-wealth consisted of two things viz. Reward and punishment Now if Lawes be not executed then both these parts and consequently the whol fals to the ground That is if neither good men who live according to the Law be rewarded nor evill men and transgressors of the Law punished then how can the Common-wealth long subsist And therefore as Chyrurgions cut off a rotten member from the body least it should endanger the whole body So Magistrates should punish and take away those who by their lewdnesse wickednesse and insolencies infect and polute the Common-wealth the inflicting of of punishment upon Malefactors being a point and part of good zeale in a Magistrate Bonos punit qui malis parcit said Seneca He punisheth a good man who spareth and punisheth not an evill man Yea it is dangerous for a Magistrate not to correct and when the fault truely deserves it to cut off transgressors For 1. They make themselves guiltie thereby of their sequent faults as Will Summers said unto the King that the murtherer had slaine one man he two Because if the King had executed the Law upon him for the first murther then the other had not dyed by him And 2. When wicked men sinne and are not punished it animates and emboldens others to doe the like And therefore as Caiaphas said It is better that one dye then that all the people should perish Ioh. 11.50 So I say it is better that one scabbed sheepe should be slaine then suffer it to infect the whole flocke And therefore it is very necessary that Magistrates should some times not onely unsheath the sword but also strike with the sword because as the Proverb is too much pittie spoyles a Citie And 3. It is the reputation of a Citie and Nation to have the Lawes executed therein without remissenesse and partiality and contrarily it is a disgrace and scandall unto a place to have the sword of justice so fast locked in the scabert that it is never drawn out nor the Lawes at all executed nor justice administred And therefore if Magistrates regard their owne credit or the reputation of their Countrey they must be carefull to execute the Lawes upon Malefactors and Law-breakers And 4. Rulers and Governours are sworne to rule according to the Lawes and carefully to execute the Lawes and not to doe this is a violation of their oath And therefore if they would not be forsworne they must not hold the sword for naught neither be onely scare-crowes but execute the Lawes by incouraging and rewarding the good and by punishing the evill And 5. It is dangerous for the Magistrates themselves not to administer justice in relieving of the injured and oppressed as may appeare in the person of Philip of Macedon who having subdued almost all Greece and being in the top of his glory celebrating at one time the marriage of his sonne Alexander and of one of his daughters with great Pompe and magnificence as he was marching withall his Traine betwixt the two Bridegroomes his owne sonne and his sonne in Law to see the sports and pastimes which were prepared for the solemnity of the marriage behold suddenly a young Macedonian Gentleman called Pausanias

and presidents both by threatnings and mild speeches both by countenancing the good and religious and by disliking disaffecting the irreligious and profane then certainly wee should quickly have a flourishing Church and State Octavius prayed God that it might be said That by him the Common-wealth of Rome was preserved from all danger and that at his death he might carry with him that hope That it should remaine many ages in that Estate he left it Suetonius This should indeed be the care and desire of every religious Ruler and the way and meanes thereunto is to labour to advance Religion and the pure worship of God for where true Religion is professed and the Lord truly worshiped and the Gospell sincerely and powerfully preached there wee may bee sure that the Church and State shall be preserved so long as it continues in that course and the Magistrates in that care of Religion And therefore if all our Governours as they ought doe desire that our Church Common-wealth and State may by them or by their meanes be preserved from all danger and that wee may long flourish after their deaths then let them while they live labour to protect maintaine and defend the truth and true Religion of Christ and advance propagate and enlarge his Kingdome and the preaching of the Gospell even from Dan to Beersheba This was alwayes Davids care as wee may see in the whole 1.17 Psalme and 2 Sam. 6. and 1 Chron. 14.12 and 16.4 and 2 Sam. 7.2 and 1 Chron. 22.14 And hence Magistrates are called Gods Ministers Rom. 13.4 that their principall care may be to advance his glory in the propagation of Religion and the promulgation of the Gospell yea hence we are commanded to pray for them 1 Tim. 2.2 that under them wee may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinesse and honesty yea hence the Lord hath recorded and humane histories put upon the file of fame the names of many Magistrates and Rulers who have beene most carefull herein as of David and Ashah 2 Chron. 14.21 and Iehosaphat 2 Chron. 17.7 and 19.8 and Ezechia 2 Chron. 29.5 and 30.1 and Constantine the great and Valentinian and Theodosius and Gratian. And therefore if wee desire the peace prosperity and good of our Land and Church we must daily invocate the throne of mercy and the Lords most sacred Majesty to give continually and successively unto us such Magistrates and Rulers both in Church and Common-wealth as may observe in themselves the Lawes which they prescribe unto others and may execute all holy and wholesome Lawes which are made justly impartially couragiously resolutely without respect of persons and according to the rule and direction of the Law of God and which may protect religion and preserve it in purity and sincetie And thus I have done with the second maine brance The duty of Subjects alone viz. The duty of Magistrates if they wish truly the welfare of the Kingdome Now 3. Followes the dutie of inscriours and subjects alone and what is required on their part if they desire that our Church and Common-wealth may long continue in prosperity purity and peace Their duties are these viz. 1. 1 They must fear the Magistrates They must feare the Lawes and stand in awe of the Magistrates according that of Plato happie is that Common-wealth where the people doe feare the Law as a Tyrant For as Magistrates as was showed before must nto be like scarre-crowes so no more must people thinke either Lawes or Magistrates to be such Plata in Convivic 7. Sapient Bias was wont to say Optimam else Rempublican in qua legem omnes perinde ac ipsum Dominum et Regem metuunt That Common-wealth must needs flourish and prosper where people are as affraid of their Laws as Lords as fearfull to breake the Lawes as to offend their King Solon being asked how a City might continue in a happy and flourishing estate answered Si Cives quidem Magistratui obediant Magistratus autem legibus If the Citizens obey their Governours and their Governours their Lawes provided that the Lawes be good But of this by and by 2. 2 They must honour the Magistrates Subjects must honour their superiours the Magistrates who beare a weighty burden for them If we could and would but consider the heavy tasks troubles cares and toylsome endeavours of our ●…nfull and carefull Governours we would thinke them worthy of double yea trible honour A Kingdome is nothig else then a care of anothers safety according to that of Antiochus who told his sonne Demetrius that their Kingdome was a noble slavery August de civit 1.14 Augustine saith Imperatores serviunt quibus videntur unperare Emperours are the servants of those whose Lords they seeme to be that is in labour and care for them not in subjection unto them Many saith Plutarch in outward shew seeme glorious and happy who by reason of a curst wife at home is full of heavinesse So a Kingdome seemes to bring all content with it but it is well knowne that Crownes have their cares yea so many so great so weighty that as a King of our owne once said if a man knew how many cares and troubles did attend it he would not take it up though he saw it lying on the ground And therefore they desire honour from and by us in bearing these heavy and hard burthens for us Yea as Lactantius saith Kings as they are men before God so are they gods before men and therefore as the Lords Vice-gerents and Deputies they are to be honoured by men And 3. 3 They must obey the Magistrates As people or Subjects must feare the Lawes and honour the Magistrates so they must also be subiect and obedient unto them Rom. 13. The Apostle commands every soule to be subject unto the higher powers And the reasons hereof are 1. Because this subjecton unto Magistrates is the very preservation of Kingdomes as we might abundantly show out of Romane Histories The Emperors of Rome continued long in their government so long as they kept the people in subjection yea so long their Common-wealth flourished but after the people began to cast off the yoke an crowne whom they pleased they then continued but a short tim●… their Empires as we see by Galba Otho Vitellius and Iulian who slew one another and by Pertinar who was slaine by the souldiers and then their Empire began to decay And therefore it is a great blessing of God when Subjects are obedient unto their Soveraignes and Superiours in all lawfull things For all things succeed well where there is obedience and sweet accord but the pride of rebellon is as the sinne of Witch-craft and preceeds ruine Prover 28.2 Subjects I say must be obedient and subject to Governours because as a man is a civill and sociable creature so there is nothing more pleasing unto God then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or when the order ordained and

conjoynt duty of Superiours and inferiours Magistrates and people Now Secondly The duty of Superiours and Magistrates alone follows the duty of Superiours and Magistrates alone and what is required on their part if they desire that our Church and Common-wealth may long continue in prosperity purity and peace Now here observe that the Magistrate is twofold There is a two-fold Magistrate to wit Supremus et Subordinatus supreme and subordinate First the supreme Magistrate is the King sacred Majestie The dutie of the supreme Magistrate is two-fold viz. 1 To be holy now in him two things are required namely 1. To continue to lead his people by a holy example Homer cals Kings Diogenes The generation of the Gods and Diotrephes Men nourished by the Gods and the Scripture saith of them Psal 86. That they are Gods that is that they should be as men obedient unto God and as gods exemplary unto men As the ordinary Load-stone which draweth Iron unto it is it selfe drawne by the Aethiopian Load-stone so Kings who draw their people after them by their example should be drawne themselves unto the Lord by his seeing they represent him unto us It was said long since Regis ad exemplum totus componitur orbis That is people frame their lives according to the example of their Prince and daily experience hath proved the truth of this saying Historians tell us that Alexander the great and Alphonsus King of Arragon were both wry necked the one by nature and the other by custome And therefore all their followers did hang the head upon one shoulder Aurelius the Emperour loved Red Wine best And therefore Torquatus would palnt no other Grapes Dionysius for a time loved Plato well and then all his followers turned Philosophers Such as the colour of Iacobs Rods were Hector Pint. Eze. 17. such was the colour of the cattell which were bred of the sheepe conceiving in the sight of the rods so as the actions of the Prince are such are wont to be the cogitations and conversation of the subjects As other beasts levell their looks at the countenance of the Lions and birds make wing as the Eagle flyes so people will imitate their Princes If Trajane be just then all the people will study justice If Octavius delight in Poesie then every one will strive to be a Poet. If Cornelius feare God then so will also all his houshold do And therefore unto the flourishing and establishing of a Church or Sate in peace purity religion and righteousnesse it is very requisite and necessarie that the Prince be zealous and religious And 2. It is further required in a Prince 2 To take unto him Assistants to take unto him the assistance of others that is wise religious and grave Counsellers ordinarily and Parliaments upon extraordinary urgent or important occasions For as a vine although it be the noblest of all trees yet needeth the supportation of reeds props and of other unfruitfull trees so Princes and Potentates need the helpe of inferiour persons Yea as the hand is not the weaker because it is divided into fingers but fuller of agility to labour so in a Kingdome the businesses are better done Plutarch which are imparted unto many And therefore seeing Kingdomes and Common-wealths are not weakned or made worse but contrarily bettered and made more strong by the helpe and assistance of able Counsellors religious Parliaments therefore these are requisite to be used by the Supreme Magistrate if he desire that the Church and State should flourish and prosper under him The duty of Subordinate Magistrates Now Secondly there is a Subordinate Magistrate that is those who are under the Supreme placed by him in place of authority Here now observ that the Subordinate Magistrate is either In fieri or in facto in potentia or actu That is some are to be chosen Magistrates hereafter and some are Magistrates already Now a word or two of these particularly and apart namely Who are to be chosen to the Magistracy First if we desire that our Common-wealth may prosper and flourish then some things are required in those who are to be admitted unto the Magistracy and to be looked unto by those who admit them and commit the government of the Common-wealth unto them As namely 1 Such as are learned in humane Lawes 1. They ought to be wise and understanding men and learned in the Lawes As the body is without members so is the Common-wealth without Lawes and as a distracted or doltish head doth small good unto the body even so an ignorant Magistrate doth small good unto the State And thereforefore it is requisite that those who are admitted unto the Magistracy be men wel acquainted with the Lawes of the Land wherein they are There was a time appointed unto the Vestals 1. Wherein they should learne 2. Wherein they should exercise that they had learned and 3. Wherein they should teach others and thus also did Diana's Priests at Ephesus Plutarch So they are to doe who are to undertake the government of a Common-wealth For it becommeth him who governeth to be learned the better to know what he doth and wise to find out how he ought to doe it and discreet to attend and take opportunity by the fore-top and resolute in the action of justice without corruption of feare of any The master of the Shippe sets another at the helme to steere and direct her but it is a shame for a Magistrate to execute his place and administer justice by a Deputie being altogether unable himselfe to doe it by reason of his ignorance in the Lawes and Statutes of the Realme Yea honestie and a good meaning are not enough in Magistrates without ability for although they mean well yet often by doing amisse they endanger and indamage both themselves and others Gracchus son of that Gracchus that had beene twice Consull meaning well to his Countrey but for want of knowledge managing it undiscreetly was slaine in the Capitoll by Cornelius Scipio Nasica Appian and his followers And hence it was that Solomon so earnestly prayed unto God To give him wisedome and knowledge or the spirit of direction for the right administration of the Common-wealth Or by wisedome as Tremellius thinks he means knowledge to wit of the lawes of right and justice and of the duties which belong unto him to doe as he is a Magistrate To teach us that it behoves a Magistrate to seeke after the knoweldge of the Lawes of that Nation wherein he dwels Hence Samuel writ the lawes of their Land in a booke 1 Sam. 10.25 and when the people crownd Ioash 2 Chr. 23.11 they put the booke of the Testimony in his hand and this booke every King and Magistrate must have a copy of which they must read diligently that they may discharge their functions according to law because the Common-wealth is not to be governed Ad placitum

ranne at him and slew him in the midst of the presse for not regarding to doe him justice when he complained unto him of an injury done by one of the Peeres of the Realme And therefore if Magistrates would not make themselves guilty of the peoples sinnes if they would not aimate and embolden people to sinne if they regard the credit of their Countrey or their owne oath or safety then they must execute the Lawes upon transgressors Now 3. As Magistrates must execute the Lawes 3 They must be just in judgment so they must be just in judgement administring the Law equally and justly without respect of persons As there were two Pillars before Solomons Temple viz. 1 Kin. 7.21 2 Chr. 3.17 Iachin id est God will establish nad Bohaz id est Strength which two Pillars were set up to behold the porch of the Temple So there are two Pillars which uphold our Church and State viz. Religion of which by and by and Iustice true Religion upholding the Church Psa 122.3 4 5. and Iustice the Common-wealth and therefore they may more fitly be learned The sword and buckler of the Common-wealth then Fabius and Marcellus were The King saith King Solomon By judgement and justice establisheth the Land Prov. 29.4 Ps 72.1 For which cause his Kingly father desires the Lord to give these unto the King And therefore Magistrates must administer just judgement without respect of persons Anacharsus said that Lawes did rightly resemble the Spiders web because they take hold of little Flyes and Gnats which fall into them but the great ones will breake and runne through them at their will But indeed this is neither the fault of the Law nor Law-giver but of the Magistrate who doth administer it with partiality and respect of persons which should not be For as the Sun is not one to a poor man and another to a rich but common alike to all So a Prince and Magistrate ought not to respect the person but the matter Tatius the fellow King of Rome with Romulus Plutarch for not doing justice in punishing certaine of his friends and kinsfolkes and had robbed and murdered certaine Embassadours which came to Rome was so watched by the kindred of the slaine that they slew him as he was sacrificing to his gods because the could not obtaine justice at his hands Malum consilium consultori pessimum as evill counsell is often worst unto him who gives it so is neglect of justice to him who should administer it And therefore all Magistrates who desire the safety of themselves and the preservation of the State ought to judge with righteous judgement And 4. 4 They must be magnanimous As Magistrates must be just and upright in the execution of the Lawes so must they also be magnanimous and couragious in the administration thereof For it behooveth a Prince or Ruler to be of such zealous and godly courage that hee alwayes shew himselfe to be as a strong wall for the defence of his people Religion and Lawes Yea it is requisite for all those who have rule and governance in a Common-weale under their Prince to know the bounds of their State and the full effect of their dutie Lactantius that by a couragious and undaunted executing of justice they may be feared and by shewing mercy they may be loved Magistrates must be so magnanimous that they omit not the execution of the Lawes for feare of any and so resolute that nothing may hinder them from the administration of Justice The Naturalists observe that although the great Owle bee in shape like other Owles yet in bignesse and in sharpe talents she ressembles the Eagle but no withstanding her bignesse and talents shee wanteth courage and is a very cowardly bird And such are evill and timerous Governours who being armed with authoritie doe not or dare not bend their force for the suppressing of evill and resisting of common enemies Magistrates must not onely have a good inclination but also a religious resolution in the executing of their places For otherwise 1. Importunity of friends and suiters will overcome them if they be mutable weake in resolution And 2. Rewards gifts and bribes will corrupt them if they be covetous And 3. Love or hatred or anger will blind them if they be passionate and partiall Judges And therefore it is necessary that being armed with authority they should be also with magnanimity courage resolution and constancy and adorned with purity equity moderation impartiality and circumspection and free from all vice avarice and impurity And 5. 5. They must governe according to the word As Magistrates must be couragious and resolute so they must rule and governe according to the word and will of God Here observe that there are two sorts of lawes namely permissive and preceptive Now although humane lawes often permit those things whch are not warranted by the word of God as Moses permitted unlawfull divorces and our Land permits usury for the avoyding of some great inconveniency yet they must never command any thing to be done whch is contrary to the word and Law of the Lord. Caius a Romane Emperour sent Petronius into Syria with commandement to bid battle unto the Jewes Iosephus if they would not receive his image into their Temple which they refused with these words They had rather die then turne from the Lawes of God And as all godly Christians should say thus That they had rather die then doe any thing contrary to the Law of God so all good Magistrates should thus say That they had rather die then command subjects to doe any thing contrary or not according to the will of God or not governe according to that rule which is the square and patterne of all pious and perfect government And 6. 6. They must defend Religion Talmud Cholin 62.1 As Magistrates must be carefull to governe according to the Lawes of God so they must carefull protect and maintaine Religion and the true worship of God The Iewes in their Talmud say That the Grapes in Babell sent upon a time to the Vine leaves in Iudea desiring them to come and overshadow them otherwise the heat would consume them and they should never come to maturity And thus if Religion be not sheltred by those who are in place of government or if they cast not their sha●dow over it it will soon decay but where they favour and protect it it prospers Licurgus reformed the State of the Lacedemonians Numa Pompilius of the Romans Solon of the Arhenians and Deucalion of all the Grecians generally by making them devout and affectionate towards the gods in prayers oathes oracles and prophecies through the meanes of feare and hope of the divine nature which they imprinted in them And certainely if all our Christian Magistrates would make it their principall care to advance Religion and to compell men to worship and serve the Lord both by their precepts

appointed by him is observed by us namely 1 Cor. 12.15 when the hand doth not oppose the head nor the foot the hand nor these the belly but every member doth performe its owne office When the head hates not the members nor they the head but reciprocally seeke the good one of another then the body must needs be in good frame and temper But if the head looke upon the body as an enemie thereunto and the body behold the head with the like eye all the Microcosme and body must then needs be out of frame and miserably distempered And thus if Magistrates stand disaffected unto the people and looke upon them with all evill eye as strangers to their welfare and people on the other side conceit and disconceive of Magistaates as those who seeke to worke their woes and weave their ruine then nothing can be expected indeed but ruine and distruction on both parts But if the supreme and subordinate Magistrate looke upon the people as their body without which they cannot subsist and the people looke upon them as their head without which they could not be preserved in unity and order or freed from miserable confusion and both mutually seeke the honour pleasure profit and welfare if without obsurdity I may so speake our little Microscome or body of England will be in a happy and blessed health And 2. Subjects must be oedient and subject to Superiours and Governours because as the Apostle saith They are from God Rom. 13.2 that is he hath made them Magistrates and imprinted his stampe upon them and given their power and authority unto them according to our Saviours speech to Pilate Thou canst have no power over me except it be given thee from above Ioh. 19.11 And therefore as Saint Paul saith He that despiseth the power of Magistrats Rom. 13.4 despiseth the ordinance of God And 3. Subjects or people must be obedient and subject unto Superiours because as the Apostle saith they are ordained by God ser our Cicero are borne for themselves much lesse then Ki ngs or Magistrates for they are ordained for the people sake lest that we should be a flocke without a Shepherd which is a point next the worst as we see by Michajahes speech unto Ahab And therefore seeing they are the Lords Ministers and appointed by him in much mercy 1 Kin. 22.17 for our welfare and peace let us obey them and be subject unto them 1 Pet. 2.13 as unto the Ministers of God If any demand wherein our subjection unto Magistrates consists Quest I answer In these things to wit 1. Answer In reverence conjoyned with love we must honour those whom the Lord hath honoured and neither despise emulate or sleight them Wee must love them with our hearts and minds and honour and reverence them both in our words and workes Read to this purpose Exod. 20.12 Rom. 13.7 and 1 Peter 2.17 18. Exod. 22.28 Eccles 10.20 And 2. This obedience which wee owe unto Magistrates consists in the undertaking of just and lawfull warres for the defence of our Country or in assisting of our Magistrates in their warres undertaken for the defence of us and our Common-wealth against either foraine or domesticall foes And 3. Mat. 22.23 Rom. 13.6 This our obedience and subjection unto Magistrates consists in giving unto Cesar those things which are his and in paying unto Princes those duties tributes and customes which belong and are due unto them And 4. It consists in praying unto God for them but of this amply in text and last proposition And 5. It consists in obeying their commands statutes and lawes Here observe that commands and lawes o Magistrates are threefold to wit 1. Good simply or directly according to the word and will of God as when Magistrates in their lawes and statutes prohibit swearing stealing adultery and the like and command and enjoyne the carefull observation of the Lords day Now in these precepts there is no question but Magistrates ought to be obeyed because as the Lords Vicegerents they impose nothing upon us but the Lords owne yoke 2. Some Magistrates command things simply evill as to fall down before a false God Dan. 3. or not to fall downe and pray unto the true God Dan. 6. Now here there is no question neither because wee must rather obey God then man and therefore when mans mandats countermand the Lords wee must not then or therein obey him 3. Sometimes the Magistrate commands that which is adiaphorall and indifferent in it selfe as namely for some politike respects the Magistrate commands us to abstaine from flesh on Fridayes or in Lent when we may without any endangering of our health or the encurring of any eminent inconvenience Now this obedience mee thinks no Christian man should deny to any Christian Magistrate 4. 4. They must be at unity among themselves If people desire that this our Church and State may long stand and lastingly flourish then as they must be subject and obedient unto Magistrates so they must be at unitie and peace among themselves If one member should be at variance and hold warre with another how could the body subsist Now in this our Church and State we are or should be members of one and the same body Rom. 12.4 5 c. 1 Corinth 12.12 c. Ephes 5.29 and therefore we ought to hold the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace We in this Land all professe to have one Father and say we beleeve in one God and Father And one Mother saying we beleeve the Church to be holy wherein wee are regenerated and borne againe And we are fed with the same teates and nourished with the said food for our meat is the bodie of Christ which was given for us and our drinke is the blood of Christ which was shed for us and we all hope for one and the same inheritance saying wee beleeve life everlasting And therefore it is fit that wee should accord and agree among our selves and like brethren live together in unity which is a good and a pleasant thing and an excellent means to preserve in peace and plenty this our Common-wealth 5. And lastly if subjects desire that this our Church and State may long flourish in purity piety 4. They must be holy and religious and prosperity then they must labour to bee obedient and holy Zeno was wont to say Stob. Ser. Decorandon esse Republieas non preciosis ornamentis sed inhabitantium virtutibus Kingdomes and Common-wealths are not to be adorned with precious jewels or outward pompe but with the piety and vertues of the inhabitants It is the Lord as wee proved before that protects and preserves Kingdomes and States now wee can no longer be assured that he will preserve us then wee are carefull to please him and fearefull to offend him and diligent and industrious in the working of his worke and walking in his wayes But having spoken something