not a Roman Catholick yet is truly Catholick and hath a Catholick Respect to the Service and Interest of his great Lord and Master in every place Yet he will not be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to intrude himself into anothers Work or Charge without ground and Warrant He is also one given to Hospitality ready to relieve the Strangers Fatherless and Widows and such as are in distress according as he hath Ability and Opportunity thereunto that he may express the Vertues upon Earth of his great Lord and Master in Heaven He regards not the Speeches and Censures of the People in the Faithful discharge of his Duty accounts it a small thing to be Judged of Mans day but is satisfied in the Testimony of his own Conscience and in the Approbation he hopes to find with God who is the Searcher of the Heart and hath learned to go through good Report and evil Report And tho he observes some foolish and ignorant Men to despise the Calling of the Ministry yet he is not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ but magnifies his Office. Again If he find any of his Brethren to exceed him in Parts Learning Ministerial Abilities and have more success in their Labours and are better accepted with the People he envies them not but rejoyces that Christ is Preached Piety promoted and Gods Kingdom propagated though by other hands more than his own He contenteth not himself to Preach general Doctrine but seeks by particular Application of the Truth to awaken Mens Consciences and to lead Men into the Knowledge of their Hearts and to bring into Captivity every Thought in their Hearts into the Obedience of Christ Further Besides his publick Ministry he is ready to go from House to House to comfort the Afflicted to support the Feeble-minded to satisfie the Scrupulous to visit the Sick and pray with them and prepare them for their latter End. He convinceth Gainsayers and confuteth Errors by strength of Reason solid Arguguments and Evidence of the Scriptures and the best Antiquity without casting reproach upon Mens Persons with vilifying and invective Language whether he hath to do with Dissenting Protestants or Papists For though Controversies in Religion are a Theological War and therefore called Polemical yet he doth not manage it with the Sword and Spear of bitter words which neither tend to convince the Judgment nor win the Adversary He reading in his Greek Testament that the Minister of the Gospel ought to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 no Fighter either with Hand Tongue or Pen 1 Tim. 3. 3. Lastly He discharges his whole Ministry in sincerity as in the sight of God will not set up his Sail to move with every wind nor look to the East and Row to the West but deals plainly and faithfully with God with the People and with his own Soul that this may be his rejoycing as it was the Apostle Pauls in the Work of his Ministry even The Testimony of his Conscience Now Reader By these things or such as these we have the Portraicture of a right Christian-Gospel-Minister which as it reflects Honour upon some so Shame upon others However the Office of the Ministry is sacred honourable and necessary and ought not to be in Contempt on the Account of the Personal miscarriages of any And if some think the Papists lift it up too high let not the Protestants cast it down too low as many did in the late Times and despised all Ministry but what was of their own Opinion or Humour which our English Nation is too prone and subject to And yet let the People consider that their Ministers are not Angels but Men of the like Infirmities with themselves and not account that a Vice in them which they will account a Vertue in other Men. Yet I think if the Christian World was well furnisht with Ministers competently qualified as before described they might be accepted of the People and usefull to their Salvation and own one another as true Ministers notwithstanding some lesser differences in Religion and in the Form of their Ordinations which the common People do not much regard and less understand For we may observe that the publick reflections that Ministers have made upon one another have but taught the People to despise all Ministry and their coming to Church hath been to hear other Mens faults and errors reproved and not their own And it may be it is no way prudent to have the People gratified in such an humour Of the Christian Magistrate MAgistracy is a great Ordinance of God for the good of Mankind He appointed it from the beginnning and it hath continued in all Ages though under several Forms And there is scarce any People in the World so barbarous and blind but have among them some Government Magistrates we know are called Gods and bear some stamp of Gods Authority and without them the World would run into Anarchy and Confusion every Mans Will Humour Fancy or Lust would be a Law to him and as far as his Power reached would be a Law to others Yet Magistracy is not founded in Grace A bad Man may be a lawful Magistrate to whom Obedience is due as well as a bad Man may be a Father or Master to whom Obedience is due both from Children and Servants yet good Magistrates are to be desired though the bad are to be obeyed in all lawful things Now Magistrates are either Inferior Superior or Supream the King himself or Governours sent forth by him all which are called by the name of Powers by the Apostle though their power is not all of the same Nature Extent or Degree yet all appointed to one common end which is the well-being of the People both in Soul and Body And I hope it will not be accounted Presumption to speak o◠things which may seem above me For ◠speak only in Thesi as Divines do who spea◠of Magistracy in their common Places of Divinity I shall proceed in the same manne◠as before First A right Magistrate is one who come◠lawfully unto his Power according to the Constitution Order or Custom of the place where his Power is exercised or at least wil◠not impose himself upon the People without their Call or Consent An Intruder cannot properly be called a good Magistrate though we could suppose him to be a good Man he cannot lawfully command though in some Cases it may be lawful for the People to obey when he is in plenary possession of Power Again He is a Man of Wisdom able to Judge of right or wrong can search out a matter and can discern both Time and Judgment Can distinguish of Causes and Persons of Guilt and Innocence and of the several circumstances that are to be considered in a Righteous Judgment He is a Man of Courage fears not the face of Man in the discharge of his Duty Is not daunted by the Dangers that may encounter him in the way of Righteousness will make bold adventures for
Eclipsed by â—â— He envies not anothers Prosperity but â— joyceth in anothers Welfare as his own â— becomes a Christian to a fellow Member Wâ— one member rejoiceth all the rest rejoice with it saâ— the Apostle Again He carries it Humbly towards aâ— and in Honour will prefer another before hiâ— self and if he be High yet condescends â— men of Low degree as becomes a Christianâ— He is one who affecteth not Pride Vanitâ— or any singularity in Apparel but considâ—â— the place and condition wherein God haâ— set him and what is comely and of good â— port herein and what sobriety humilitâ— and modesty the Christian Religion doth oâ—lige all unto and requires both of Men aâ— Women professing Godliness He gives not heed to every Report wise considers what he Hears and much more â—fore he reports again that he may not â— charged with folly lying or defamation Again He is one who Glories not in hiâ—self neither in what he is or in what he hatâ— or in what he doth but acknowledging Gâ— in all gives all Glory to God as becomes Christian he knowing well that he hath nâ—thing but what he hath received and that iâ— God alone who makes him to differ He lays to heart publick Calamities aâ— the Sins which bring them upon the Peoplâ— and stands in awe of God and his Judgments when they are on the Earth and is from thence learning Righteousness but especially he being a member of the Church of God doth simpathize with her afflicted condition and is not satisfied in his own private welfare and will not omit the extraordinary Duty of soâ—emn Fasting and Humiliation in such extraordinary cases If he be cast upon Perilous times he will â—ot rashly expose himself but will use all â—rudent means for his own safety but always â—ill joyn the Innocency of the Dove with the Wisdom of the Serpent and his dangers do â—ake him flie to God for refuge and to hide â—imself under the shadow of his Wings The â—â—udent man foreseeth the evil and hideth himâ—elf saith the wise man. He is one who walketh in Love is a folâ—ower of Peace with all men as knowing â—here there is strife and envy there is confusion â—d every evil work and that Men are known â— be Christs Disciples by loving one another Further He is no Busie-body in other Mens â—atters which concern him not but minds â—e Duty of his own place to discharge it â—rightly towards God and faithfully toâ—ards Men. If he be a Master of a Family he will upâ—ld good Government and the Worship of â—od therein allows not Sin in his Servants yet Rules not over them with cruelty aâ— rigour but gives them that which is just aâ— necessary If a Servant he is Submissive aâ— Gentle Diligent and Faithful performs nâ— Eye-service from fear of Man but in singlâ—ness of Heart as to the Lord. If an Husbanâ— he dwells with his Wife according to knoâ—ledge Loveth and Cherisheth her as his oâ— Flesh giving honour to her as the weakâ— Vessel and is satisfied in her Breasts aâ— embraceth not the Bosom of a Stranger so tâ— true Christian Wife is modest meek prudeâ— peaceable a keeper at home guiding tâ— House submitting her self to her own Hâ—band as to the Lord and is faithful to tâ— Marriage Bed and so true Christian Pareâ— will provide for their Children dispose â— their Education to the best advantage wâ— early teach them the good Knowledge and Feâ— of God and by reproof counsel and câ—rection restrain the exorbitances of thâ— Youthful Age And so their Children if coâ— to Age will Reverence and Obey their â—rents endeavour to requite them hearken â— their instructions and perform the ingagâ—ments they have laid upon them in their Bâ—tism and those that are Young will revereâ— Age and be tractable to receive instructiâ— from their Elders and the Aged will by â— gravity of their carriage put an awe upon â— Hearts of the Younger Again A right Christian will not allow vain or wicked thoughts in his Mind the actual sins of the life being first committed in Mens thoughts and knowing though they are hid from Men yet they are all open to the Eye of the omniscient God and under the Authority and Cognizance of his Law as well as Words or Actions so that he being a lover of Gods Law is an hater of vain thoughts as the Psalmist speaks He is one also who watcheth over his Lips that his speech may be seasoned with Salt and that nothing that is vain false foolish or unsavoury may proceed from them he remembring what the Apostle speaks in this case If any man seem to be Religious and bridleth not his Tongue this mans Religion is vain He is one who is Just and Righteous in his dealings with Men will not defraud and over-reach in Bargains or fraudulently break in others Debts will not lie equivocate or break his Promises betray his trust much less take a false Oath to wrong another or advantage himself and seeks to walk by the Apostles rule Owe nothing to any man but love one another and if he hath wronged another is ready according to his ability to make restitution He hath a sacred Reverence for the holy Name of God will not Prophane it by common Swearing or take it up rudely in common discourse or talk Again He is pitiful and compassionate to those that are in distress will not add Affliction to the Afflicted but is ready to shew mercy and to forgive others as he himself hopes to obtain forgiveness from God. He will not abuse the good Creatures of God to any excess his eating and drinking is to refresh and not to oppress Nature and will studiously avoid all Temptations thereunto that his Body may be kept in a due serviceableness and subjection unto his Soul. But confines not himself to any Jewish or superstitious distinction of meat and drink he knowing as a Christian that to the pure all things are pure c. And as he will not prodigally consume his earthly Substance so he hath an Heart to make use of it for comfort to himself and the benefit of others and will not disquiet his mind or perplex his thoughts with carking cares groundless fears or endless desires about the things of this World whereby he cannot enjoy the good that is in his hand He is one also who is careful to redeem and improve his Time and will not consume it in hearing or reporting News in unnecessary Visits idle Discourse much less in Gaming Clubbing Tipling Feasting or any immoderate Recreation His love to Men is without dissimulation He will not say to another Your Servant your humble Servant Sir when he hates him in his Heart And further whenever he finds in himself an opposition betwixt Conscience and Interest he gives Conscience the praeminence preferring his inward peace before outward advantages and the pleasing God before gratifying himself Again He will not use his utmost liberty â—n lawful things where it
modish and immodest Dresses not becoming their Profession and high living beyond their Quality their Place or it may be their outward Estates Again Have you not some amongst you who are of unquiet Spirits unruly Passions given to brawling strife and contention in your Family Parents with Children Masters and Mistresses with Servants using reproachful Names and threatning Language not becoming the Gospel and injurious to all good Order and Government Have not some also been guilty of great Covetousness grasping at great Estates and griping the Poor and oppressing the Needy and withholding Wages when it was due anâ— shutting up your Purse in works of Charity and Mercy and have had the cry of the Poor thereby against you Have not some of you had itching Ears now crying up one Man then another having Mens persons in admiration because of parts gifts opinions and affecting tone oâ— some peculiar notions in Religion affecting Novelties more than sound Doctrine and hearing them rather to please your Fancies than profit your Souls Again Have not others of you run into extreams in Religion running so far from Justification by Works as to cast off Charity and good Works and seeking purer Ministry and Ordinances have rejected both and depending upon the Spirit have cast off the Scriptures and negected endeavours and fleeing from Superstition are fallen into practical Atheism and from knowing Christ after the Flesh to know him only as a Light within and from corruption in the Church to be of no Church and have run from Prelacy to a popular Anarchy and from receiving the Sacrament Kneeling not to receive it at all Have not others been Tale-bearers Sowers of Discord and Raisers of false Reports it may be of Magistrates themselves at least have been too credulous to receive them and divulge them abroad and so ensnare themselves in the words of their own Mouth Have not some been guilty of too much Uncharitableness to such who have differed from you and your Opinions in Religion and confining the Church of God to too narâ—ow a compass and making Christs Kingdom â—o consist in doubtful Opinions high Notions forms of Government gifts of Utterance â—ather than in Righteousness Peace and Joy â—n the Holy Ghost as the Apostle speaks Have ye not also had great Divisions and Animosities among your selves Brother going â—o Law with Brother rash Censuring of one â—nother and broke off your Communion with â—ach other for slight and trivial and doubtâ—ul matters being of fickle Minds and have â—ot any due consistency among your selves â—eing uneasie without Liberty and when you â—ave it want wisdom to preserve it or imâ—rove it Have not many of you discovered great â—ant of Wisdom and Prudence in the managâ—g of your Professions and different Opiniâ—ns both in your speeches and behaviours â—mongst Men and towards one another and â—ereby given just occasion of offence Have not some of you placed much of your â—eligion in your particular Opinions in your separate Churches without seeking as ye ought that inward Grace which might Sanctifie your Hearts and Regulate your Lives and so separate you from the moral evils oâ— the World as well as corruptions in Worship Have not others of you been guilty of mucâ— Spiritual Pride in despising those whom yâ— have thought in a Form below you and diâ—covered it in contemptuous Language anâ— Carriage And have mistaken the power oâ— Fancy and the transport of meer naturaâ— Passion soon vanishing away for the work â— the holy Spirit which abides in the Soul. Have your Fastings and days of Prayeâ— been kept as dayes of true Humiliation foâ— Sin but rather to have your Sufferings removed than Sanctified or to have some particular Opinion prevail rather than sincere Râ—ligion substantial Holiness and solid Pietâ— in your Hearts and Lives Again Have not the Temptations of thâ— times made some of you to act contrary tâ— your Consciences Principles and Professions to save your self from Suffering and givinâ— occasion thereby to your Adversaries to glorâ— over you Other things I might mention but theâ— things may serve for Conviction to the Guiltâ— and for Caution to others For I am perswadeâ— better things of many of you though I thâ— speak I know ye have among you many eminent examples of Piety Prudence Justice Sobriety Charity and strict and sincere Devotion towards God and Innoceny towards Men and that nothing but Conscience towards God doth make them Dissenters in Religion being otherwise ready to perform all dutiful respect to Magistrates and all acts of Love Friendship Hospitality and good Neighbourhood towards all among whom they live and it cannot be denied but that many of your Ministers and Teachers have been and are Men of great Learning Prudence and Piety great Textuaries and eminent Preachers and sound Expositors and zealous against Popery But if any will make an ill use of what I have said and are glad through the sides of some offending Dissenters to wound all Religion Piety and Profession I shall only say as the Prophet Oded did to the Host of Israel after they had slain their Brethren the men of Judah with a rage reaching up to Heaven Are there not sins with you even with you against the Lord your God 2 Chron. 28. 10. Or as our Saviour to the Pharisees concern-in the Woman taken in Adultery Let him that is without sin cast the first Stone at her Have not those of the Church of England who have of late been casting Stones at the Dissenters their Sins May not our Saviour say to the Church of England as to the Church of Ephesus I have somewhat against thee And as it 's said to the Church in Sardis Rev. 3. 2. Srengthen the things which remain that are ready to die for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Hath she not exprest more zeal against Nonconformity in some indifferent Rites and Ceremonies so accounted by themselves than against notorious Vice and Wickedness Hath she not establisht Church Communion upon other Foundations than the Apostles did in the Primitive Churches as Profession of Faith and Repentance and Subjection to the Commandments and Institutions of Jesus Christ Hath she manifested the meek and tender Spirit of Christ toward those who have iâ— some small Points of Religion differed from her and such as may justly be Scrupled and herein not done to others as she would heâ— self be done unto And scoffing at their pleaâ— of Conscience as vain Canting Hath she not in many of her Doctrine Preached Printed and Published departeâ— from her own Articles and some forwarâ— Men have been shaping them and their publick Worship and Order more and more intâ— a conformity to the Church of Rome anâ— thereby raised the hope of the Papists and occasioned many multitudes of Protestants in the Nation to dissent from her she driving them from her Communion and then punishing them for so doing Hath she not been breaking down the Civil Bounds and ancient Land-marks and exposing the holy
Great Christus regnat vincit triumphat Wherein they acknowledged the Superiority of Christs Dominion and the subserviency of their Government to it And we know the Title of the French King is Rex Christianissimus but how proper to him let Europe judge And though he intermeddle not in the Intrinsicks of the Church of Christ which belong to the Ministry yet he makes use of his Power to preserve Civil Peace in Church and State and to command Obedience to the known Laws and Ordinances of Christ in his Church both in Ministers and People by his Power and Government in matters Ecclesiastical and will Protect and Encourage them therein And as the Kings of Israel were required to write a Copy of the Law of God and Read therein all the days of their Life so he Reads and Studies the Word of God that he may see with his own Eyes and that his own Devotion towards God and that which is Professed and Practised by the People may be guided by that infallible Rule And being sensible of the weighty Charge of his Government he depends upon Almighty God for his daily Assistance Guidance and Blessing So that this fear of God doth steer his whole Course and Rules in his Heart in all his Rule over Men whereby the Righteous rejoyce and flourish under his Government but the Wicked and wickedness are scattered with his Eyes Thus we have a Brief Description of a good Magistrate and what a Blessing such are to the People and may engage all to give them Honour and chearful Obedience and may condemn those Men that will submit to no Government and others who only Submit while their own Interest or Opinion is upheld by it And if in any thing the Magistrates fall short they at least may by these things see their Rule however it will not excuse the People in the Duty they owe unto them which leads me to the next Head to Discourse of A Right Christian-Subject FIrst He is one who acknowledgeth God himself to be the Supream Governour of the World but yet that he doth execute his Government by Second Causes and Instruments and particularly by Princes and Magistrates in their respective Provinces Places Kinds and degrees of Power He also owneth the Providence of God as the chief disposer of the Governments of the World and of the Persons that under him do execute them Setting up one and Removing another and changing of Times and Seasons as he pleaseth and whether they are sent in Wrath for Correction and Punishment or in Mercy for the Comfort and Establishment of a People he acknowledgeth a Divine hand in both He is one who is contented in his Station and being a Subject seeks rather to Obey well than to Aspire after Power and Government which belong not to him he considering the cares fears distractions and dangers that attend high Places which Men in a lower Sphere are freed from whereby he rather Pities than Envies them The Onus of Government for the most part outweighing the Honos of it He is careful in the First place to discharge his Duty toward God and therefore dares not yield Obedience to Men in any thing that is inconsistent with his Fealty Allegiance and Duty towards God he knowing that he must Fear God as well as Honour the King and that he that Fears not God cannot be duly and truly Subject to Men and that the Notion of a Deity is no Enemy to Civil Government by setting up a fear of God in Mens Hearts above all other fear as some Atheists have said His Religion teaches him Loyalty but he makes not Loyalty his only Religion He is one who giveth Obedience to Magistrates not meerly out of fear of Wrath oâ— any outward Constraint but of a ready Mind in compliance with the Commands of God and the Dictates of a well regulated Conscience and as he makes the Law of God and the Laws of the Land conjunctim the Measure oâ— his Obedience so Conscience is the Principle of it He is a follower of Peace and Concord nâ— sower of Strife and Sedition no fomenter oâ— Divisions no Incendiary to kindle Flames he knowing it is great disservice to the Ruleâ— to have his People Divided and injurious to the growth of the Nation in Wealth Strength and Honour He will not entertain much less promote groundless Jealousies of Magistrates whereby to disaffect the Minds of the People and so diminish their just Honour and the Authority of their Government He is one industious in his Place and Calling and serviceable to the Common-wealth of the Nation though he be but in a mean Place and Station the King himself being served by the Field and the Labour of the Plough-man whereas Men that live like idle Drones are neither useful to their Governours nor the publick Welfare and so are not as they ought to be good Subjects As that is not a good Bee that brings neither Wax nor Honey to the Hive so in point of Arms he is not a good Subject that will not use them in a just Cause for the publick Good upon Lawful Command as well as he that takes them up without such grounds He pays Tribute Custom or whatever Tax is justly due to the Magistrate for preserving the Peace Wealth and Honour of the Government under which he lives and according to his Duty and Ability will help to defray that publick Charge which is necessary for his own and the peoples Preservation in the Community of the Neighbourhood among whom he dwelleth He will not revile the Gods and speak evil of Rulers nor rashly censure their Actions as knowing they may Act upon Reasons of State which are not known to him nor fit to be made Publick and will not oppose his private Sentiments to the publick Wisdom of the State. And as a good Subject he is careful in his Place and Calling to maintain those Liberties and Immunities which are legally and justly due to the People and will not basely through Cowardise or Bribery betray them to an Arbitrary Power As a good Servant will carry it as he ought not only to his Master but also to his fellow Servants but herein he is careful to do nothing tumultuously but according to Law and Ancient Custom with peace and quietness so that if any disturbances arise they may not lie at his Door that Judgment may run forth like a River and Righteousness like a mighty Stream and no rushing noise arise by interrupting the free course thereof He doth truly Honour but not Idolize Rulers gives not that Fear Trust Honour and Adoration to them which are due to God alone and as Men of Wisdom in high Place affect not vain Applause and to have their Persons in Admiration above what is meet as we Read of some of the Heathen Emperors that they affected Divine Titles and Worship so a wise Subject who truly Loves and Honours the Prince will not spread a Snare for his Feet by