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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A45330	The beauty of magistracy in an exposition of the 82 Psalm, where is set forth the necessity, utility, dignity, duty, and mortality of magistrates : here many other texts of Scripture occasionally are cleared, many quæries and cases of conscience about the magistrates power, are resolved, many anabaptistical cavils are confuted, and many seasonable observations containing many other heads of divinity, are raised : together with references to such authors as clear any point more fully / by Thomas Hall ... ; with an additional sermon on verse 6, by George Swinnock.	Hall, Thomas, 1610-1665.; Swinnock, George, 1627-1673. Men are gods.	1660 (1660)	Wing H427; ESTC R18061	228,882	316

they give laws out of their own Dominions and therefore saith the Divine law they are not to be obeyed God indeed is to be obeyed universally and unlimitedly intuitu voluntatis upon the bare sight of his will but I must examine the laws of men by the laws of God and if they are dissonant and disagreeing to Gods laws I must be disobedient to their laws No meer mans Ipse dixit is sufficient Acts 6. 29. We ought to obey God rather then men The men of Calicot say some will do whatsoever their Emperours command though it he to worship the Devil as some write they do but we must observe the order of commands Fear God is before Honour the King 1 Pet. 2. 17. And again My son fear the Lord and the King Prov. 24. 21. And Eccles. 8. 2. My son keep the Kings command and that because of the Oath of God which latter words And that because of the oath of God are not only a reason but as is excellently observed a limitation to the precedent Exhortation They are a reason or enforcement It is neccessary to give obedience to Magistrates not only out of fear towards them because of their sword but out of conscience towards God because of his vows that are upon us Rom. 13. 5. and so it seems to relate to some Covenant and Oath of fidelity which was taken by the people towards their Princes 1 Chron. 11. 3. Isai. 19. 18. And surely Oaths to Magistrates are to be kept though some slip Oaths as easily as the Monkies do their collars and like the man possessed with the Devil break all those bonds asunder God will have a time to make inquisition for perjury when his roll of curses ten yards long and five yards broad shall rest in the house of him that forsweareth himself and destroy it Zach. 5. 2. But the words may be considered as a limitation Keep the Kings command but so that thou do not violate thine Oath and obedience due to God Thy fealty to the Gods must be such as will consist with thy fidelity to God for we are bound to God and his service by Oath and Covenant 1 Pet. 3. 21. Psal. 119. 106. And no subordinate obedience must make us forget our obedience to him who is Supreme We must obey Rulers usque ad aras as far as Religion will suffer us and no farther My obedience to man must be regulated by a good conscience towards God Dan. 3. 16 17 18. 1 Sam. 22. 17. Act. 5. 29. As a subordinate Officer is not to be obeyed when he useth his power against his Prince which he received from his Prince and should have improved for his Prince So neither is a Prince to be obeyed when he useth his power against God which he received from God and should have improved for God As we must give unto Caesar the things that are Caesars so we must give unto God the things that are Gods Matth. 22. 21 22. One observeth that the Greek Article is twice repeated when be speaketh of God more then when he speaketh of Caesar to shew that our special care should be to give God his due It was a noble speech of those Worthies mentioned Dan. 3. 16 17 18. who were commanded by the King to worship the Image which he had set up O Nebuchadnezar we are not careful to answer thee in this matter Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the ●urning fiery furnace and he will deliver us out of thine hand O King But if not be it known unto thee O King that we will not worship thy God nor fall down to the golden Image which thou hast set up And it was a gallant answer of the Prince of Condee who being taken Prisoner by Charles the ninth of France and put to his choice Whether he would go to Mass or be put to death or suffer perpetual imprisonment The former said he by Gods grace I will never do and for the two latter let the King do with me what he pleaseth God I hope will turn all to the best We are also to honour Magistrates both by praying for them and paying tribute to them the former is our duty and the latter is their due I will saith the Apostle that prayers and supplications be made for all men for Kings and all in authority 1 Tim. 2. 1 2. The burden which lyeth on them is weighty we had need therefore to beg of God to strengthen their backs otherwise they can never bear it There is a truth in that saying Did men but know the weight of a Crown they would not stoop to take it up Pride indeed is so prevalent with many persons that they will venture their lives to satisfie their ambition these mens great care is to get the Sword the Scepter not how to use them for God and his people but certainly they who mind a faithful discharge of their trusts find the Magistrates Throne to be a place of little ease They are shepherds Isai. 44. 28. and we know the life of a shepherd is a laborious life they endure the scorching heat of Summer and the nipping ●old of the Winter to keep their flocks safe Cares and Fears about publike concernments molest them night and day as weights hang on a clock and will ●ot suffer them to sleep If they watch to protect us should not we watch unto prayer for them The e●bleme of King Henry the seventh in all the windows of his house was still a Crown in a bush of thorns surely to tell us that great places are not free from great cares that no man knoweth the weight of a Scepter but he that swayeth it We are bound likewise to pay tribute to them ●s well as pray for them Render to all their dues tribute to whom tribute belongeth custom to whom custom Rom. 13. 7. It is observable The Holy Ghost calleth it their due To pay tribute or custom is not an act of curtesie but a duty which must be done out of conscience God commandeth it from us in lieu of the Magistrates care of us as v. 6. For this cause pay ye tribute praestatis n●n datis you pay not you give for they are Gods Ministers c. Your paying tribute and custom is a sign of your subjection to them and a thankful acknowledgement of your protection from them and v. 5. For this cause ought you to be subject not only for wrath but for conscience sake God taketh care for the maintenance of the Magistrate as well as of the Minister and doth strictly enjoyn us that both they who watch for our souls and they which watch for our bodies should have an honourable subsistence Did such as are private but seriously consider this word conscience for conscience sake they durst not as they do cozen the publike The same mighty Possessor of Heaven and Earth who giveth me a right to the whole

walls and hedges will sting them God will make men know that it is a dangerous thing to confound rule and subjection and to break down the partition wall which he hath set up between Magistrates and people When these sharp instruments which they run against wound them deep they will believe that it is bad medling with edged tools and that there is a truth in those words of the Apostle They that resist procure to themselves damnation Rom. 13. 2. that is both corporal punishment and eternal torment saith Peter Martyr If thou wouldst not therefore suffer with others take heed of sinning with others Depart I pray you from the Tents of these wicked persons saith Moses to the Congregation upon the conspiracy of Corah Dathan c. against their rulers and touch nothing of theirs leaft ye be consumed in all their sins Numb 16. 26. They that join in common rebellions must expect to be joyned in common destructions Be not imparient of rule as thou desirest to avoid that ruine which Gods mouth doth threaten and his hand will execute on such rebellious ones Let those many examples which are in Scripture and other Authors mentioned of them that are hung on Gibbets as monuments of Gods sury fright thee from their acts least thou partake of their ends Believe it no King can possibly be so tender of his own honour as God is of his own Officers Do not therefore shoot-off thy guns of opposition against the Gods least they reco● and kill thy self Reviling of natural parents was banishment by Plato's Law death by Gods Law Exod. 21. 17. Those then that revile civil parents shall not alwayes go unpunished Thirdly Consider thy felicity and welfare doth under God depend much on the Gods The Apostle enforceth this use by this very Argument For he is the Minister of God for thy good Rom. 13. If he labour to do thee good why shouldst thou imagine evil against him To render 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 is God-like Mat. 5. ult but to render evil for good is devilish Magistrates are shields Psal. 47. 9. they defend their subjects from the darts and bullets with which the sons of violence would wound them Shepherds Numb 27. 17. to defend them from the devouring mouths of ravenous creatures They are called the foundations of the earth because they support the building from ruine and sinking Prov. 10. 25. Coverings Ezek. 28. 16. which importeth that Engine under which Souldiers used to be protected in assaulting the walls of an enemy against the stones and darts which were thrown down upon them Guides Prov. 6. 7. because they lead and direct the people Angels 2 Sam. 14 15. in that they defend and protect the people The Fathers and Mothers of the Countrey Gen 41. 43. Iudges 5. 7. because they take care of and provide for their people Healers Iob 34. 17. because they cure their wounds and make up their breaches They deliver the poor that cryeth and the fatherless and him that hath none to help They are eyes to the blind and feet to the lame Fathers to the poor and helpers to the needy Iob 29. 11 15. They are born not for themselves but for the good of many as Bucers Physitian told him And they govern not seeking their own wealth but the Common-wealth as Aelius Adrianus Emperour of Rome would say They are as Trees whose leaves are fair whose fruit much and in them is meat for all in their shadow the beasts of the field dwell and in them the fowls of the heaven have their habitation Dan. 4. 12. 21. They are the keepers of our liberties the preservers of our lives the safety of our persons the security of our possessions the terrors of sinners the defence of Saints the Nerves and Sinews yea the Vital spirits of the body Politick without whom all things would run to ruine and quickly fall to confusion How much then do they for us and how much then should we be subject to them Surely as little as many value them they will find much cause to celebrate the funerals of these civil Fathers with many tears Our comforts as well as our consciences call upon us to be subject To wish them harm that watch to be our helps is horrid ingratitude Cicero saith he that killeth his Father committeth many sins in one because he sinneth against many obligations His Father begat him nourished him brought him up Magistrates are the Fathers of their Countrey he that resisteth them or doth violence to them committeth several sins in one because he sinneth against so many engagements to subjection We owe all the comforts we enjoy for this world nay somewhat of them that relate to a better world under God to the Magistrate We could not sleep quie●ly in our beds one night we could not eat one meal peaceably in the day without them we could not call either children or estates or lives our own without them we could not enjoy such liberties for our souls such frequent communion of Saints without them How great then is our obligation and how great should our subjection be to them These many cords of kindness should bind us to them He was possessed with a Devil whom no cords would hold Mark 5. 3. and surely they are little better that against the Law of God and this protecting love of the Gods will not learn to be loyall Trees receive moisture from the earth and within a while pay it back in those leaves that fall to the earth again the Rivers receive their waters from the Ocean and they acknowledge it in emptying themselves into it Sheep that are fed by us acknowledge it in serving us with their flesh and fleeces And shall man be more brutish then the beast I s●all end this exhortation with the words of the Holy Ghost a little varied Obey them that have the rule ●ver you and submit your selves for they watch for your bodies as Ministers for your soul as they that must give an account Heb. 13. 17. My second Exhortation will be to the Gods If the God of heaven have appointed you to be Gods on earth then it may exhort you to walk as Gods and to work as Gods amongst men First Walk as Gods among men your calling is high and therefore your carriage should be holy Every calling hath a peculiar comliness belonging to it A Courtier hath another manner of behaviour then a Countrey man a Scholler then a Scullion a Prince then a Peasant The greater your priviledges are the more gratious your practices should be Remember whose livery your wear whose image you bear whose person you represent whose place you stand in and walk worthy of that calling whereunto you are called Eph. 4. 1. Some would have us give no names to children but such as should mind them of their duty The spirit of God hath given you a divine name which should mind you of the divine nature Since your compellations are according

God by Nature and he hath given them to be Gods by Name The Deity was by Incarnation cloathed with the Humane Nature and Humanity is here by Gods designation cloathed with the divine name I will praise thee before the Gods saith David Psal. 83. 1. that is The tune of my heart shall be high in singing thy praise even before them that are by thy command highest in place The Sun in the higher world shineth most gloriously yet he communicateth some of his light to the Moon whereby she surpasseth and is as Queen among the glittering Stars So God the true Sun is infinitely above all he shineth eminently with his own native light and lustre yet he bestoweth of his beauty and brightness on some men whereby they excel and are above others in this lower world For the Explication of this truth I shall only shew in what respects Magistrates are called Gods and then proceed to Application Magistrates are in a two-fold respect called Gods 1. In respect of their honourable dignity 2. In respect of their answerable Duty It speaketh that their priviledge is high and that their practices should be holy 1. In respect of their Dignity God speaketh the nature of Magistracy to be honourable by the names which he giveth to the Magistrate Government is not a mean employment but a great preserment Magistracy is here by God himself invested with Majesty It is observable that God ascribeth to Magistrates the most honourable names among men Great men 2 Sam. 3. 38. Nobles 2 Chron. 23. 30. Princes Psal. 83. 11. Kings his Kings Psal. 18. ult Fathers 1 Sam. 29. 11. Chief of the people Iudg. 20. 2. Heads over the people Exod. 18. 25. Dignities Glories Iude v. 8. The Ancients of the people Isai. 3. 12. not only because aged persons were ordinarily elected for with the ancient is wisdom and in length of dayes understanding Iob 12. 12. but also because aged persons are honourable persons Men are commanded to bow down before the hoary head and reverence the Ancient Levit. 19. 32. Nay God giveth Magistrates not only those names which are in most esteem amongst men but the names of Angels Angels are the perfection as it were of the Creation the top-stone of this glorious building When the Spirit of God would speak a thing or person to be excellent it doth resemble them to Angels My Lord is wise as an Angel of God 2 Sam. 14. 20. And Acts 6. 15. They beheld his face as if it had been the face of an Angel Farther the great happiness of holy ones in heaven is set forth by their likeness to Angels They shall be as Angels Matth. 22. 30. Now what glorious persons then are Magistrates that have the names of Angels given them Angels are called Dominions Principalities Powers Col. 1. 16. Ephes. 1. 21. So are Magistrates Iude v. 8. Titus 3. 1. Be subject to Principalities and Powers But the Text speaketh more of their dignity Magistrates have not only the highest names of the most honourable visible creatures Men and of the most honourable invisible creatures Angels but of the Creatour of God himself the Fountain and Standard of all Dignity and Honour I have said ye are Gods When Iacob would manifest to Iosephs children the extraordinary respect he had for their father he doth it thus My Name be named on them and the Names of my Father Abraham and Isaac Gen. 48. 16. It is a great honour to be called the servant of God Paul gloried in this Titus 1. 1. So did David more in being a subject to God then a King over men Psal. 36. Ti●e It is a greater honour and favour to be called Gods son Ioh. 1. 12. 1 Ioh. 3. 1. Is it a mean thing saith David to be the Kings Son in law 1 Sam. 18. 23. Magistrates are children of the most High they are ●ons to the King of Kings But the greatest honour of all is to be called Gods for God to say My name be named on them This is the highest name that can be given Here is a ne●●plus ultra This is the highest Name which is above all names and as the Diamond to the Ring addeth both vertue and value to whatsoever it is affixed As because Gold is the most precious excellent metal therefore we lay gold over other things we guild peuter brass yea silver it self So because God is the most excellent name it is laid to other things that thereby their worth may be set forth As the Sons of God Job 1. 6. The City of God Psal. 46. 4. The River of God Psal. 65. 9. The Kingdom of God Now in their dignity Magistrates resemble God in these two or three particulars and therefore are fitly called Gods First in receiving honour from others Honour accompanyeth power as the shadow the body There is naturally in man an aw and respect towards those that are Magistrates They are the Fathers of their Countrey and their subjects like children owe them both obedience and reverence Divine worship is to be given only to God in heaven but civil worship may be given to Gods on earth David speaketh of himself being a King His glory is great in thy salvation Honour and Majesty hast thou put upon him Psal. 21. 5. Ioseph when advanced to be a Ruler in Egypt rideth in the second Chariot and hath one crying befor him Bow the knee The most high God that giveth them Kingdoms doth also give them Glory and Majesty and honour Dan. 5. 28 29. God indeed hath the greatest honour as the Supreme Governour and Law-giver but Magistrates receive it upon his account as they are his Representatives and Vicegerents When I went out to the gate saith Iob that is to the place of administring justice for that work was done in the gates as Ruth 4. 1. Iob 5. 4. Psal. 127. 5. the young men saw me and hid themselves and the aged arose and stood up the Princes refrained talking and they laid their hands on their mouths Iob 29. 8 9. My son saith Solomon fear thou the Lord and the King Prov. 24. 21. God is the proper object of fear hence the Greeks call him fear but the Gods because invested with his authority and intrusted with the administration of his Kingdom upon earth are also to be feared as Superiour to us though inferiour to God Secondly their dignity appeareth and in this they resemble God also in giving Laws to others Magistrates have power to enact laws for the encouraging of vertue and discouraging of vice for the preservation of peace among their people Zanchy saith There are three offices of the Magistrate whereof one is to ordain laws for the worship of God and the welfare of men There is indeed one Supreme and absolute Law-giver Iames 4. 12. whose will and word must be the rule of others laws Besides in spirituals none can give laws to bind the conscience but

Government that is worse then none at all where there is Magistracy some may be opprest and wronged but none can be righted where there is none at all Better poor people should sit under a scratching bramble then have no hedge at all to shelter them from the storms of popular fury Nebuchadnezar was none of the best Governours yet he was a Cedar under which the beasts of the field found shadow and the fowls of the Heaven dwelt in the bows thereof Dan. 4. 9 10 11 12. And if a Heathen Magistrate be so usefull what is a Christian one A sixth Observation We may lawfully give Titles of Honour to Magistrates If God himself calls them Gods Shields Saviours c. and lay upon them Majesty Glory and Honour Psal. 21. 5. why should any man scruple the giving of them such Titles Away then with those sottish Quakers who are afraid of being too respective such is their breeding to Gods Deputies and therefore they call them Thou Richard Thou Thomass Thou Iohn as if they were talking to some Bearwards rather then Magistrates But the Holy Ghost hath taught them better manners and give Titles of Honour to men in Authority as King Agrippa Most Noble Festus Acts 26. 25. Most excellent Theophilus Luke ● 3 But of this at large in another place Caution yet Rulers must take heed of suffering Flatterers to give them Titles which belong not to them as Most Holy Most Unconquerable Omnipotent Omniscient our Lord God as Domitian and the Popes of Rome are called by their Parasites Thus Iames Naylor had blasphemous Titles given him his Adherents ar Everlasting Son of Righteousness and Prince of Peace they sung before him Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Sabbath no more Iames but Jesus the Lamb of God a perfect man c. Death is Lot of such blasphemers Lev. 24. 16. Dan. 3. 29. T was the ●in of the Persians that they honoured their Kings with Divine Honour as Gods Let such remember Herod who for his Pride in suffering Divine Honour to be given to him was eaten up of worms or lice Acts 12. 22 23. God is very tender of his own glory what ever he parts withall he will not part with that Isa. 42. 8. when Satan began to call for divine honour Christ would bear no longer but bids him Be gone Satan Observation 7. The calling of the Magistrate is an honourable calling God puts his own name on them they are earthly Gods they judge for him they bear his Image in their Office they sit on his Throne and he sits with them there Though they be subject to Infirmites sickness and death as other men are yet their calling is Honourable for the Dignitie of Magistracy lies not so much in the persons who are mortal but in their Office in that they are Gods Lieutenants on earth they sit in his place and exercise his power by Deputation by him they are appointed to execute Justice and preserve the Nations in Peace and Purity Now the Dignity of Magistracy will the better appear if we consider those Titles of Honour which the Scripture graceth them withall for whereas Libertines call them Pests and Plagues Persecutors Burdens and Abusers of the world by tyranny oppression c. Yet the word of God calls them 1. Gods 2. Sons of the Most High 3. Saviours 4. Fathers 5. Nursing Fathers 6. Heads of the Body 7. Eyes of a State 8. Servants of God 9. Shepherds of the people 10. Healers 11. Pillars 12. The Lords anointed 13. Dignities 14. Nails in the building 15. Corner-stones 16. Shields of the earth 17. Angels 18. Foundations 19. Signets 20. Captains 21. Rocks and Hiding places 1. The Holy Ghost calls them Gods as we have seen at large before 2. Sons of God by Nature or Adoption but by Office of which see more on ver 6 3. The Saviours of the people Iudges 2. 16. 3. 9. Neh. 9. 27. The Lord saved Israel by the hand of Ieroboam 2 Kings 14. 27. and of David 2 Sam. 8. 3. Such a one was Iehosaphat 2 Chron 20. These God hath ordained for Saviours and shelters to his people against the rage and Violence of a wicked world hence t is that in their straits and exigencies they Appeal to Caesar for succour Acts 25. 11 12. though many times the Remedy is worse then the disease and those that should be Saviours become D●vou●ers and destroyers of Gods people but this is the abuse of their power God erected them to defend and save his people that under them they migh lead Quiet Honest and Godly lives 1 Tim. 2. 2. 4. Fathers of the people So Ioseph who was a Prince in Aegypt is called a Father Gen. 45. 8. and Deborah is called a Mother in Israel Iudges 5. 7. The Philistines called their Kings Abimelec● i. e. the King my Father Gen. 20. 2. 26. 1. Psal. 34. Title Saul was a wicked King yet David calls him my Father 1 Sam 24. 11 and Iob who was a Magistrate a Judge at least as appears Iob 29. 7 8. and as some conceive a King though his dominions might not be so large as ours now are yet possibly such as in those antient times and in those Eastern parts of the world were called Kings being a Supream Governour within his own Territories though perhaps but of one single City and its Subburbs with some few neighbouring Villages hence he 's called the greatest man of all the East Iob. 1. 3. and when he came in presence the Princes and Nobles held their Tongues he sate as chief and dwelt as a King in the Army Iob. 29. 9. 25. yet though he were thus great he stiles himself a Father to the poor Iob 29. 16. and t was an high commendation of Valentinian the Emperour that his people knew not whether they had of him Dominum an Patrem a Father or a Lord. In Rome of old the Senators were called Fathers and t was afterwards counted among the Romans the greatest title of honour that could be bestowed upon their Consuls Generals Emperors or who ever had deserved best of the Common-wealth to have this addition to the rest of his stile Pater Patriae the Father of his Countrey This Title implayes not only Power and Authority but also tenderness care and pitty they should carry fatherly affections towards ●heir people as a good Father loves defends and cherisheth his children so will a good Prince his Subjects he will not grind them by cruel exactions nor drink their blood to satisfie his own lust nor suffer them to be poysoned with Heresie when they cry for bread he 'l not give them a Scorpion but he is more tender of his people then of himself and more sensible of their miseries then his own In all their sufferings he suffers with them he condoles their miseries redresseth their wrongs relieves their wants reforms their errors prevents their

dangers procures their welfare and happiness by all good means Thus men of publick Places should be men of Paternal and Publick Spirits Such men need no Guard when King Agasicles demanded how he might be safe without a Guard t was answered by behaving himself towards his Subjects as a Father to his children Hence Rulers are called the Arms of a people to bear them up and tenderly to lead them Iob 22. 8 Psal. 77. 10. Ier. 48. 25 Ezek. 31. 17. 5. Nursing Fathers and Nursing Mothers Isa. 49. 23. Kings shall be thy Nursing Fathers and Queens thy Nursing Mothers A most sweet description of the loveliness of Magistracy shewing what tender care should be in them towards the Church of God no Father or Mother shall be more tender over their children to provide for them and to guard them and secure them from annoyance then Governours in Gospel-times shall be over Gods poor helpless Fatherless people q. d. Whereas Kings and Rulers of the world are now opposite to the Church yet in Gospel times Kings and Queens shall gladly take upon them thy Patron●ge and Protection both in Temporals and Spiritu●ls no Nurse shall be so tender over their little ones as they shall be over thee Thy Queens shall be Saraes so t is in the fountain i. e. they shall be as tender over thee as Sarah was over Isaac who gave him suck and as the Nurse out of love spares no cost nor pains but gives even her own blood to her babe so the Churches Rulers shall spare no cost nor care but will venture their lives for the Churches good As God made several of the Persian Kings Nursing Fathers and defenders of his ancient people the Jews at the time of their return from Babylonish Captivity as we read in Ezra and Nehemiah so we read of the Roman Emperors as Constantine Theodosius c. that were Guardians to the Christians in their dominions God would have Governours to carry his people in their bosoms lovingly carefully mildly and gently Num. 11. 12. Hence it is that they are called Benefactors or gratious Lords Luke 22. 15. because of that bounty and beneficence which they do or at leastwise ought to shew to their people and are compared to a lofty tree which yields shade for beasts nests and habitations for birds and meat for all Dan. 4. 20 21 22. 6. The Heads of the body Polick and the Principalities of a Nation Numb 1. 16. 14. 4. 17. 2. Iudges 11. 8. Titus 3. 1. and that 1. In respect of sublimity as the Head is the highest and most Honourable member in mans body so in the State the Magistrate excels others in dignity and sublimity hence he 's also compared to a Mountain which stands above and overlooks the rest of the earth Mica 6. 2. 2. In respect of power and profit As the Head commands the rest of the members and directs their actions for the good of the whole so the Magistrate is set over his people to direct and rule them for the benefit of the whole body hence t is that Ieremy laments the loss of Zedekiah the last King of Davids line but none of the best with that Pathetical expression The breath of our nostrils is gone Lam. 4. 20. As a man cannot live without breath so a Common-wealth cannot long subsist without Government 3. As all the members of the body will hazard themselves for the good of the Head so should subjects for the good of their Rulers 7. The Eyes of a State As the eye of the wicked watcheth his opportunities to do mischief so should the Magistrates eye watch to catch them in their wickedness to this end God hath set up Magistrates to oversee the manners of the people and calls them eyes Iob 29. 15. Isa. 29. 10. The Lord hath poured on them the spirit of deep sleep and hath closed their eyes but who are those the next words tell you The Prophets and Rulers hath he covered The Hebrew word which we render Rulers is Heads because Rulers are the Heads of a people and what is a Head without eyes or having its eyes covered Rulers especially when good are the light of Israel and the beauty thereof 2 Sam. 1. 19. 21. 17. 23. 4. 1 Kings 3. 28. As Ministers are called Seers and the eyes of the Church 1 Sam. 9. 9. 1 Cor. 12. 16 17. so Magistrates are appointed by God to be the Eyes of the Common-wealth to foresee dangers and prevent them and to oversee the manners of people to amend them Now as they should not wear the sword in vain so they should not bear these Titles in vain they should not be glass-eyes or wooden-legs as those artificial limbs stand the Body Natural in little stead so do these the body Politick Stat magni nominis umbra 8. The Servants of God Ier. 27. 6. Ezek. 29. 19 20. Hag. 2. ult yea though they be Heathens yet their power is Gods and therefore he calls them his Servants and Ministers Rom 13. 4. 6. Neither is this Title any diminution to them but t is the honour of their Honours that they are Servants to so great a Master who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords The Angels those glorious spirits count it their honour to be Ministring Spirits to such a Lord Heb. 1. 14. and Christ by way of Honour is called Gods Servant lsa 42. 1. 53. 11. These are the great Servants of the Common-wealth endowed with gifts of prudence fortitude clemency c. for the good of others Neither are they only his Servants by right of Creation for so all creatures are his Servants Psal. 119. 91. Nor Secondly by Right of Redemption for so the elect only are his But by special Delegation and Commission from God by way of Eminency they are called his Servants because they are set to serve him in a more excellent place Now the more Eminent the Master the more Noble is the service No Master like God his work is wages and such imployment is high preferment Yet this Dignity calls for Duty for a Servant how great so ever he be is but a living Organ as the Philosopher calls him to serve his Master with all his might he works for him he gets for him he lives to him and dies to him he 's wholly at his beck and service so must Magistrates who have received their power from God spend themselves and all they have for his honour for albeit they are Gods amongst men yet they are but men with God the greatest Emperor is but his Minister They are Rulers over the persons yet are but servants for the good of their people People must serve them and yet they are the greatest servants As t is the duty of all to serve them so t is their Office to serve all 2. As Magistrates and Ministers are both 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Servants and have the same

travell There is no man saith Solomon that hath power of his Spirit to retain it neither hath he power in the day of death there is no discharge in that war Eccles. 8. 8. It is storied of Alexander that having heard of Paradise he was very eager of seeking it out and for that end came into the East part of the Earth where an old man meeting some of his Souldiers bad them tell Alexander that he sought Paradise in vain For the way to Paradise was the way of Hu●●ility which he did not take but faith he Take this stone and carry it to Alexander and tell him that from this stone he shall know what he is Now the stone was a precious stone and of such a quality that whatsoever thing was weighed with it that was still the heavier only if it were covered with dust then it was as light as straw thereby signifying that though Alexander and men in Authority out-weigh others in life yet when they are covered with dust when death cometh they are as light as others all their greatness cometh to nothing O how little Earth containeth Great Men when they die who will not be contented with much while they live If then ye must die shortly doth it not behove you to live strictly If your time be little should not your work be great for God and your souls Whether thou wilt think of it or no death is approaching thee the Sun doth not move faster in the Heavens then thou art moving to the earth The glass of thy Life for ought thou knowest is nigh its last sand Sure I am thou art now nearer thine unchangeable estate then ever thou wert and doth it not concern thee to walk exactly among men and to work industriously for God! O how much wilt thou wish at an hour of death that thou hadst walked humbly with God and wrought hard for the Lord all the time of thy life T is observed among the Papists that the Cardinals who think their Cowle and other Rel●gious Habits ill becoming them in their health yet are very ambitious to die and be buried in them And I have taken notice in several Churches where are the Monuments of great persons that their Effigies must be erected kneeling with a Bible in their hands holding their hands up to heaven and looking very devoutly with their eyes up to the same place when I have heard of some of them how Prophane and Athe●s●ical they were in their Lives that they used the name of God often in swearing but seldom in praying and prized a Romance or a Play Book above and read them oftner then the Bible Truly thus it is Piety that is trampled under feet by you now in your health and life believe it will be a pearl of great price with you in your sickness and death then ●ou will think the holiest man the happiest man the Precisest Christian in the most blessed condition then you would willingly change states with them which are now Objects of your scorn then you will wish that you had denied your selves crucified the flesh glorified God and walked after the Spirit that you had spent that time in Praying and Reading which you have spent in Carding or Dicing or vain Recreations that you had improved that wealth and strength in the Service of your Saviour for the honour of God and welfare of your soul which have been laid about the World and your lusts O Sirs when this time cometh you will have other thoughts of sin and holiness then now ye have Sin will not be so pleasant and lovely nor holiness so mean and unworthy as now it is in your eyes Probably you can hear of death by the reports of others and be little troubled ye can stand it out stiffly against such false fire with We must all die and Nothing so sure God knoweth who shall go next and the like all this while the heart not with seriousness considering of it so as to be preparing for it The soul as much neglected God as little regarded and the affections as much inslaved to fleshly lusts as before But when Death climbs up to your own windows and entereth into your Chamber and comely with its pale face to your bed side and boldly arresteth you with a warrant from Heaven assuring you by its symptoms on your body that you must in good earnest into the other world and there have all your walkings and workings interpreted and examined by the infinitely pure and righteous God and your souls according to your deeds sentenced impartially and sent immediately to Heaven or Hell then surely your apprehensions of a new Nature and strict Conversation will change and you will wish with all your souls for a little of others oyl for your Lamps will go out The stourest unregenerate heart alive will droop at last when God cometh to take away his soul then his crest-falls and his plumes flag Now possibly thy Cup overfloweth thou hast a large portion of the good things of this world and they have so much of thy heart that thou art little troubled about the things of the other world the Table of thy life now is richly spread with honours pleasures relations possessions and these have the largest share in thy heart in these thou solacest thy self desiring no other Heaven But what wilt thou do when Death shall come with a Voider and take all away even all thy treasure on earth then thou wilt wish thou couldst find a treasure in Heaven that thou mightest die the death of the Righteous and have thy latter end like his But oh Friend thou shouldst then have lived their lives and have had thy conversation like theirs as the Crab in the Fable told the Serpent who when she had received her deaths wound for her crooked conditions stretched out her self straigh● At oportuit si● Vixisse that she should have been straight in her life time The way to make thy death comfortable is to make thy life serviceable to God and thy soul. He that would enjoy true rest when he dyeth must labour faithfully and diligently whilst he liveth It will be like a dagger at the heart in an hour of death to reflect upon the talents misimployed and opportunities misimproved which free grace afforded you for the honouring of God and furthering of your own salvations Sins of omission will wound deeper at a dying hour then most are aware of God hath committed a great trust to you and the day of your lives is the only time of discharging it besides ye know not how few hours ye may have to your day whether it shall be a Winter or a Summer day the shadows of the evening may suddenly stretch themselves upon you and then it will be no longer day therefore work the work of him that sent you into the world while it is day for the night cometh wherein no man can work Iohn 9. 4. Is it not sad that our