demeanours in the presence of it as that we should rather hide our selves in self-abasement until we come forth in the wisdome purity and spirit of the Lord with meekness righteousness and patience shining in the very face of gain-sayers as Stephen Act. 7.55 and 6.15 with the reflection of Christs beholded splendor Otherwise whatever we may perswade our selves others will fear that when this glorious Kingdome shall come forth in truth and power we shall not be able to stand before it And truly this I do verily believe That had we all had hearts to have â—ightly tendered Isa 59.12.3 4 5 8.10 and Christian-like made use of as became a people of such mercies the Lords gracious beginnings towards us we had not stuck in the birth as we do at this day of far more glorious Receptions Jer. 5.25 I beseech you friends suffer me out of the abundant trouble of my heart to tell you that which the world are ready upon all occasions in a triumphing manner to throw into your faces Instead of a greater measure of Gods Spirit poured out upon you and a more full and clear Revelation of Divine purposes seasoning the heart with abundant holiness and integrity for such manner of persons the Scriptures say 2 Pet. 3.11 shall they be that truly wait and expect the coming of the Lord Jesus Alas what pride envy covetousness * gluttony censoriousness reigns among us Amos 5.18 comp with 21. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. saith Naz. While we would have Charity we study hatred while we seek to set up the corner-stone which unites the sides together we are loosened our selves we are for Peace we say and yet we prepare for War Naz. Orat. 12. that highly condemn it in others What neglect of Duty to God and to our Neighbour yea to our Brother for whom Christ died insomuch that if they are but thorowly enough engaged if but bitter enough against the present Powers and can but declaim high enough against them no matter how scandalous in conversation those matters will be passed over well enough I speak not without too evident proof but I forbear the mention By this means instead of searching again the good old way of faith and repentance mortification of corruptions and the means thereto conferring experiences in communions of Saints fasting prayer c. whereby the deceipts of our own hearts and the redoubled and * Among the which I am perswaded this is none of the least To put the people of God a quarrelling about that which least concerns them thereby to prevent them from doing greater and more glorious works for God refined wiles of Satan in this his last season Rev. 12.12 might by the Lords blessing be discovered and suppressed Now what have we but views and reviews of State-miscarriages Anti-Magistratical Lectures designs and contrivances against the Civil Peace of the Nation inviting men to leave their Trades and Callings and take part with them c. that your Societies which use to be more Evangelical are turned into meer Cabals But blessed be God! the Churches of Christ do at this day with heart and hand abhor these practises while they can faithfully love your persons By which means ah how many disponded and bewildred souls are there who when they repair at any time to your Assemblies cannot meet with one word in a whole days exercise that may tend to binding up or suppling such wounded spirits nay do they not rather tend to the further distracting and confusing the weak heads and hearts of such And how many others have we of those Auditories that can give a better account of Court-failings and Councils then distinctly I fear of the Fundamentals of Religion or much less of the present state of their own hearts Thus God is in the mean time wonderfully dishonoured enquiring hearts after the ways of God obstructed and prejudiced wicked men in their ways of sin and malignity encouraged and hardened and all some way or other damnified Alas are we fit to bear rule with Christ that cannot rule our selves Jam. 3. Do we indeed look for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our Lord Tit. 2.13 when we are thus unruly in our speeches v. 8. and deport our selves so disorderly unrighteously and unholily Isa 33.15 Psal 15. v. 12. Let me tell you my Brethren It is those that walk uprightly that backbite not with their tongue nor take up a reproach against their neighbour Mat. 10. v. 16. That are Doves and Sheep meek harmless inoffensive without rancour Luk. 6.28 That bless them that persecute and do good to them that despightfully use them That do not behave themselves unseemly 1 Cor. 13. Rev. 14. v. 3 4. seek not their own That are Virgins not defiled with the World or the lusts thereof following the Lamb in truth and holiness Mat. 5.14 v. 16. Mat. 25. v. 4 10. It is these that do glitter with the lustre of the Spirit amidst the dark world with whom my soul covets to joyn her glimmering Lamp in the waiting for our Lords coming as being assured they shall enter with him into his Joy To conclude in a word Brethren the Scriptures were written for our Rule also Rom. 15.4 and there is no different Priviledges to the Saints of our Age more then before onely in this a breaking forth of more light for which God expects we should be more humble and more thankfully holy Argument 4 Say that were truth that is so passionately asserted That the person in Authority is as you would make folks believe he is an Usurper Oppressor c. Yet that hinders not but that the Godly called to places under him may lawfully serve him and their Generation without infringement of Conscience or blemish to Religion My Reasons are briefly these 1. First Because the people of God in places of power and trust the Lord strengthening them and giving them a heart to improve it rightly may shine as lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation as a Beacon set upon a hill that others seeing their good works may glorifie God directing and provoking others to the same laudable practise 2. They may hereby have a more eminent occasion not onely to put to silence the ignorance of foolish men according to 1 Pet. 2.5 but also be as a bridle and awe upon their spirits to deter and restrain them from that excess of riot into which they would otherwise with more freedome run 3. It is a good means to keep good men more closely and heedfully in the ways of God so David Psal 39.1 and Nehemiah cap. 5..9 lest by them occasion be given for the ways of God to be evil spoken of 4. They thereby keep out worse that by wicked Magistrates would surely be preferred and possibly by mis-information and confident insinuations may supply their rooms even under the best and most carefull Prince 5. They are hereby more
thiâ— censure upon had not the honour of God and truâ— Christian duty more then ambition to have beeâ— this way taken notice of thus exposed it My purpose therefore was not if I could to compose affectedly but plainly which the truly Christian a whose like I chiefly aim will best like and yeâ— with Augustine I can say Ita stylo moderabor ut huic operi in Dei voluntate peragendo nec eaâ— quae supersint dicam l. 17. de Civit. Dei cap 1. nec ea quae satis sunt prae termittam My care hath been according to mâ— ability so to temper my style that neither thing superfluous should be inserted Si cui legere non placet nemo compâ—lliâ— inviâ—um was Hierom's mind Jul Caesar nor things necessaâ—â— omitted For the Critical and Captious I nevâ—â— yet thought them worthy the notice there are Booâ—â— enough already extant that will fit their humouâ— of less importance but if they will needs be barâ—ing at me let them know I am professedly a straâ—ger to them and therefore I neither care nor woâ—der Jacta est alea as the Emperour said I haâ—â— put it to the hazard I value their applause a censure alike Jewel against Harding faults will escape a man betwixt his fingers let him look to it never so narrowly said a worthy Defender of the truth Some plain Soloecisms and harsh expressions have been found in Tullies own works Aug. and many more no doubt in mine which is not written to teach but to practise more But lest I should be upbraided most of all with the City of Myndus for making my Porch too big I conclude assuring thee Reader that all these things were duly weighed before hand and how I should incur almost every mans displeasure and * Viz. That I am a Court Sycophant That I cite Popish and Prophane Authors That I am fallen from my Profession That I write this to get Honours and Riches and an hundred such uncharitable imputations But O! my God I appeal to thee who hast given me mercy to be faithfull 1 Cor. 4.3 Job 34.29 censure But while I was musing hereon the fire brake out it was so much on my heart lest I should be sinfully silent in this general distemper that I could no ways longer conceal it and be faithfull The Lord Jesus for whose sake I am now entred upon the Stage in this Iron Age bless these my unbyassed endeavours to the honour of his Name the taking off some unchristian imputations which by imprudence and lustfull exorbitancies have sullied the bright face of Religion and the settlement of some sober heart or other in their most Christian duty towards Authority Amen C. D. Vindiciae Magistratuum OR A sober Plea for Subjection to the present Governours and Government NOt Syllogistically to enwrap my Grounds and Reasons for submission to present Authority In legendis libris non quaeramus scientiam sed saporem saith Beru from the understanding of the meanest capacity nor with flowers of Oratory strains of Wit or elaborated Sentences to deck the Truth whose nakedness is beauty far above all give me leave immediately to aver which surely were enough if I should say no more Argu ∣ ment That it is our Duty to obey the Powers and Authorities under whom we live Because it is the Lords express will and command that we should do so For proof of this I find the Holy Ghost in his declarative will the holy Scriptures thus energetically delivering it Rom. 13. Let every soul be subject unto the higher Powers For there is no Power but of God the Powers that be are ordained of God Whosoever therefore resisteth the Power resisteth the Ordinance of God and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation Wherefore ye must needs be subject not onely for wrath but also for conscience sake vers 1 2 3 c. Let me crave your patience a little in the breaking open this Text and see how each word affords us a most manifest proof of our assertion In these verses c. the Apostle having before forbidden to recompence evil and to avenge our selves V. 12. teacheth that Magistrates are set up of God to be his Ministers for that end and therefore we ought to reverence and obey Governours which are so helpfull to mankind Wilson Now the reasons that moved Paul to make as it were a set Treatise touching the honour due unto Rulers are First to stop the mouthes of such as affirm the Gospel of Christ to be an enemy to Authority Pet. Martyr as Christians were slandered in the Apostles time Secondly in respect of the Jews who being free-born of Abraham and Gods peculiar people did seek to shake off the yoke of the Romans that were now their Lords Thirdly Because it might seem to be far unmeet for the faithfull who are governed by Gods Spirit to be ruled by heathenish Governours And Fourthly to meet with such as imagine that Christian liberty and civil Magistracy could not stand together and that we need not be subject to politick Laws because Paul had written before that we are not under the Law c. Therefore that God might have his glory before the face of the world by his professing people that publickly owned his Son the Lord Jesus Christ Mayer in his Preface to Rom. who was every where so much contemned his suffering at Jerusalem fresh in their memories Suetonius Dr. Lightfoot Harmony fol. 122 c. Willets Synop. q. 3. an 1. Afflicti suppliciis Christiani genus hominum superstitionis nova maleficae Tacitus Annals lib. 15. cap. 10. his doctrine called Nova malefica by the Rabbins and Philosophers of that idolatrous time And Nero then Emperour of Rome seeking to cast infamy upon the Professors thereof when he had wearied himself in tormenting them by fathering on them many most false imputations and aspersions as his own most cruel firing the City of Rome giving out to take off the general murmur and suspicion of the people That it was the Christians whose seditious principles saith he is that no Jurisdiction on earth is to be owned c. Our most prudent and wary Apostle sends this Epistle to the converted Romans and Jews then in Rome with this especial direction and caution as to their deportment towards the civil Authority which he imperatively delivers Let every soul be subject to the higher Powers This as to the occasion Let every soul be subject Every soul It is an Hebrew Synecdoche as some observe the Soul for the whole Man Leigh Wilson so Gen. 46.26 Acts 27.37 which word our Apostle doth use rather then man to teach us that the subjection required must be voluntary Note and not of compulsion And every soul without exception of what condition sex or age soever Dutch Annotat. even as many as have souls must yield this subjection Origen would by a nice distinction except
suddenly rashly is from the same root as M. Burroughs observes curb his words that he might not speak at randome unbeseeming words how ever he might be seemingly induced thereto by any provoking object Indeed Seneca was wont to say Invalidum emne natura querulum the weakest spirits are ever the most quarrelsome and contentious We see it too manifest at this day Again v. 4 A froward heart shall depart from me who so privily slandereth his neighbour him will I cut off vers 5. or as the Hebrew phrase is that betongueth traduceth or calumniates Aynswort He that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight Illic incipit illuc rapit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mr. Manton c. This is the tongue as the Apostle James speaks cap. 3.6 that is set on fire of hell and sets on fire the whole course of nature the whole course of our lives as the Greek renders it there is no action no age no Estate priviledged from the influence of it There is a great resemblance between an evil Tongue and Fire 1. For the heat of it 't is the instrument of wrath and contention which is the heat of a man a boyling of the bloud about the heart Solomon saith Prov. 17.27 A man of understanding is of a cool spirit hot water boyleth over so do passions in the heart boyl out into untoward words because in his lips there is a burning fire Prov. 16.27 2. For the danger of it the Tongue is a powerfull means to kindle divisions and strifes The fool casteth firebrands and saith Am I not in sport Prov. 26.18 We throw fire abroad scalding words and do not think of the danger of them 3. For the scorching Reproaches penetrate like fire David compareth them to coals of Juniper which burn hottest and longest desolating coals as the Seventy render it O! labour with our humble Prophet to keep anger from being a scorching fire in your tongues Psal 39.3 c. And with him Psal 131.1 let not thy heart be lifted up through pride nor do thou exercise thy self in things too high for thee Deut. 17.20 which do not sute with thy calling but behave and quiet thy self as a Childe by his Mother wean thy soul and minde thus be as lowly minded meek hearted and full of simplicity Mat. 18.1 2 3. This was the practice of this blessed man after Gods own heart and must of necessity be of all that profess to be the servants of the most high God for when this blessed practise doth fail or is cast off by any as then he will be taken off from the way of holiness so he will be set to follow the imaginations of his own heart Psal 140.1 2 3 5. which sends forth nothing but seeds of corruption and the roots of bitterness which will spring forth into poysonous weeds of slanderous untruths peevishness unchristian detractings and what is worst Now the way to prevent the growing of these roots of bitterness and keep cool our tongues is to keep the heart possest with the principles of saving graces that make the soul calm and serene within from whence will be sent forth such an odour into the world such a beauty discovered such a pleasantness in sound speech that can in no wise be condemned that every one will be able to discern with some approbation and relish the ornament of that Christians meek and quiet spirit and be ready to speak well of his Profession admire the splendor of his conversation although they remain themselves poor souls all the while in their filthy lusts and fling their dirt upon others Observe with me a little further to set home this duty that blessed Exhortation of the Apostles Ephes 4.31 32. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice and be ye kind one to another tender hearted c. Here the Apostle treats of Wrath in a double acceptation that which is less grown and that which is setled with maliciousness The first is set down as it is in the affection the second as it is in the word Definition of Bitterness Bitterness is a smothered displeasure of which one will not be known that maketh a man a burthen to himself and others till it be digested This Wrath being fuller of discontent then revenge like a fret that ranckles inwardly and like a fire that hath no vent it is exceeding violent and like Water cast upon Lime Mr. Bayns the fairer you deal with it the more it burns Simile and as the face by the yellow Jaundies receives the colour of the disease when the Gall overfloweth In facie legitur homo so our looks will be ready to discover the heart when all our behaviour hath tasted of the Gall of Bitterness Wrath or Fierceness Definition of Wrath. Ira furor brevis est Anger notes of it noteth an impetuous Anger that is manifestly and headily carried being soon up and soon allayed as too violent to hold Anger is that which sets us upon the desire of Revenge This sinfull Anger hath these Symptomes and causes 1. When men are moved because their mindes are not served or because something crosses their designs or expectations 2. When our Anger keepeth no due bounds is excessive and against the innocent as well as the nocent is inconsiderate c. 3. When it hindreth good duties breaketh off love occasioneth other sins as Clamour which is a disorder in words accompanying the former disorder in affections Clamour its effects for as a fire kindled here or there will fasten unto the next things unto it so this fire of Hell burning in the heart will fasten on the tongue and as the Jews once stirred against Christ could cry no other thing then Crucifie him crucifie him so the language of the clamorous is nothing else but Kill stay and destroy pull down and consume as Stephens enemies cried aloud and run upon him Act. 7.3 As Drums in a battel to drown the moans of the hurt Evil speaking executing their fury in their inveterate acclamations O! therefore in your Anger have a special care to rule the Tongue Evil speaking is a blaspheming either of God or Man imprecations revilings c. He loved cursing it shall light on him Psal 109.17 A man may be denominated from his language Thou art one of them for even thy speech bewrayeth thee said the Maid to Peter The Godly bless such as curse them for the Language of Canaan is their Speech Malice what 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 With all Malice It is a sinfull affection which doth separate and make us evil disposed towards others The word may as well be rendred Mischievousness signifying one special kind of sin which is directly opposite to Brotherly Love and Charity sweetly expressed by the Apostle in the following contraries viz. kindness one to another tender-heartedness forgiving one another even as