A TEMPER FOR Loyal Joy and Grief.
Delivered in a Sermon, preached upon Sunday Feb. 15. An. Dom. 1684. being the Day of Proclaiming His present Majesty, James the Second, King of Great Britain, &c. in the City of Cork.

THere is nothing, that could have mitigated, or rendred so much as tolerable, that Grief, which we had conceived, and with which we are still affected, for the Loss of our [Page 2] late Most Gracious Sovereign, but th [...] quiet and peaceable Succession of his Bro­ther, our present Sovereign, to the Crown▪ We cannot indeed but still retain a ten­der sense of so great a Loss; and, whether we will or no, intermix Sighs with our Acclamations, and drop Tears amidst our Joys. There appears most evidently, do what we can, a strange conflict of Affecti­ons in the most of us; not unlike to that which was in those Priests and Levites, when the Foundations of the new Temple were laying; some, remembring the first Temple, wept with a loud voice, and others shouted for joy, that they were now found­ing a second; so that the noise of the shout of joy could scarce be discerned from the noise of them that wept. Ezr. iii. 12, 13. We may not dissemble it, some such odd disorders we are in.

Yet when we consider, that, notwith­standing all our fears, and others malice, James the Second, the Dear and Faithful Brother of Charles the Second of blessed memory, the Son of Charles the First, that glorious Martyr for his Religion and the Laws, the Grandson of the great and happy King, James the First, in whom the three Crowns were happily united, [...]as succeeded, and that without any Stir, [Page 3] Tumults or Blood-shed, but with the [...]reatest Peace and Ease imaginable, unto [...]he Throne of his Royal Father (and may we long hold it so, may these days of [...]eace long continue to Him and us) when [...]e consider this, I say, we ought to cheer [...]ur selves, and endeavour the tempe­ [...]ating our Griefs, and composing our Minds.

Further, when we add to the former [...]onsideration, that his present Majesty has [...]raciously declared to the world, and given [...]is Royal Word that he will govern according [...]o the Laws established; that He will main­ [...]ain our Religion and the Government of Church and State, as they now stand; that he [...]ill imitate his blessed Brother, and most espe­ [...]ially in his great Clemency and Tenderness to [...]is People; and that as he hath often here­ [...]ofore ventur'd his Life in Defence of the Na­ [...]ion, so he will still do his utmost to [...]re­ [...]erve us in our just Rights and Libe [...]ties, of all which we have this day a full and publick assurance: When we add this, I [...]ay, we ought to banish Grief from our hearts, in our Souls to rejoyce, to fall down before God and bless him, con­cluding we have Charles the Second still, after a sort, alive and entire in Jame [...] [...]he Second, whom God long preserve.

Yet because it is impossible on a suddain to rid the world of Fears, Jealousies, and the like uneasie Affections; because also there are to be found abroad, though I hope not amongst us, many unquiet and tumultuous Spirits, who delight in Trou­bles, and would fain be embroyling all again; because also what I have said may not haply be by all believed, or my self be deemed too credulous, it may not be amiss or unseasonable to entertain you upon occasion of this Solemnity with some thoughts on this calming passage of the Royal Psalmist. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted amongst the Hea­then; I will be exalted in the Earth.

In what particular Crisis of the Jewish affairs, or on what occasion this Psalm was first penned, I have not found any so bold as peremptorily to ascertain. By the Inscription of it, it is directed to the Sons of Corah, those famous Masters of Mu­sick, when the Jewish Choir was in its most slourishing state, and so probably composed about Solomons Succession to the Throne. Sure it is by its Contents, its true date must be in very perillous, or esse in tumultuous times. Such Days and Affairs all those high expressions in it do most certainly import; and the Affections, [Page 5] that the holy Penman professes, bespeak no less. ver. 1, 2, 3. God is our Refuge and Strength (sings he) a very present help in time of trouble. Therefore will we not fear though the Earth be moved, and though the Mountains be cast into the midst of the Sea. Though the Waters thereof roar and be trou­bled, though the Mountains shake with the swelling thereof. The removing of the Earth, the roaring of Sea and Waters, the shaking of the Mountains, and their being thrown into the midst of the Sea, are all but lofty Poetical ways of speak­ing, design'd to express great Commoti­ons in the State, the unsettling or remo­ving Foundations of Government. All which when he had thus nobly sung, he falls not in the other part, but sweetly proceeds, There is a River, the streams whereof make glad the City of our God, the holy places of the Tabernacles of the most High. Jerusalem had not the advantage of any such mighty River as are those, which have made great and wealthy di­vers Cities: But there was the Brook Kidron, which as 'tis described, above Je­rusalem Eastward, imparted a clear and gentle Stream for the watering of the lower City; And there were besides the Waters of Siloah, which, augmented by a [Page 6] small Stream from the Fountain Gihon, passed softly (Isai. viii. 6.) into Sion, and in a manner close up to the foot of the Temple. To which soever of these two our Royal Poet alludes, either of them aptly resembles those secret and soft Re­freshments, which at all times relieve and bear up the Spirits of the true Israel. They have not ever perhaps an irresisti­ble Torrent of all the worldly Power, Security and Interests, that some could wish, running strongly for them; but in their most forlorn circumstances that their enemies can imagine them in, they have easie, secret and spiritual Comforts, in a way of humble affiance in God▪ and com­mitting themselves and their affairs to his Gracious Conduct. And sometimes, when God thinks good in his Providence to ap­pear for them more visibly (as he has of old, and more lately in a glorious sort for our establish'd Church) the Emanations of his Power, Wisdom and Goodness are in no cases more conspicuous than in their Protection. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be removed; God shall help her, and that right early. ver. 5. This he avows (and that more loftily than any thing hitherto, if possible: This, I say, he avows) v. 6. ever has, does, and will [Page] appear, maugre all the Rage of some, and the Combinations of other Enemies. Let the Heathen rage, and the Kingdoms be moved, 'tis but Gods uttering his Voice, and the Earth melts away. And now why should his Church at any time droop in Spirit, or be dejected? This Lord of Hosts is with us, this God of Jacob is our Refuge: to which he puts a Selah, that is, sing this Strain in your highest and fullest Musick: Let the Earth ring of it. And having thus far proceeded, our sacred Authors Breast was now full enough of God, to publish a kind of Summons or Challenge to the whole world, to behold or consider the mighty Acts of Gods particular Provi­dence in behalf of his Church. Come and behold the Works of the Lord, what Desola­t [...]ons he hath made in the Earth. ver. 8. In the days of David, God smote down be­fore his Anointed all the Enemies of Is­rael round about them. Which being done, towards, or in, the days of Solo­mon, he crowned the foregoing Victories and Deliverances with a deep Peace, ver. 9. He maketh Wars to cease unto the ends of the Earth; he breaketh the Bow, and knappeth the Spear asunder, and burneth the Chariot in the fire. But such deep Peace, as I conceive not yet in perfect being at [Page 8] the penning of this Psalm, (which, I say, by the whole tenor of it, manifestly be­speaks it self to have been writ in totter­ing or turbulent times): only to assure the faithful, that it was at hand, and in­fallibly future, the holy Psalmist sings it as already accomplisht; an usual Scheme with the Prophets! Mean while, to still and aw all sorts, he (yet again in his wonderful Character of Speech, and like the greatest Artist) brings in God himself controling the Inhabitants of the Earth in the Text; Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted amongst the Heathen; I will be exalted in the Earth. Words indifferently applicable, either to the Turbulent and Enemies of the Church, and of Davids Kingdom; (as if he had said, De­sist from your fruitless Combinations, and malicious Contrivances: Know that I am God): or to the faithful and firm Adhe­rents of David, who, inclining to diffidence and fears of the worst, might be in impa­tient hurries, and uncertain Counsels. And if thus taken, the Sense is, Be still, quiet your selves, patiently in Humility, Faith and Sobriety await the issue. Know that I am God, and in my good time I will both glorifie my self, and settle you. To which, as in a full Chorus, the Faith of [Page 9] the Church answers, The Lord of Hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our Refuge. Se­lah. That is, most probably as before said, a Note for the highest Musick.

Because I cannot presume any number of our Kings or Churches Enemies here pre­sent, and besides, for that it is an ungrateful thing, on this good day, to take the words in their worst acceptation, I shall chiefly insist on them as directed to the Church, and to faithful and loyal Subjects. And to them, First they prescribe a Duty ve­ry seasonable, prudent and Christian, in apprehensions of uncertain or in uncertain or unsettled affairs, namely, an holy Quiet of mind, Be still.

Secondly, they inforce this Duty, and that by three Principles or main points of Religious Doctrine. The first of which is the general and sovereign Power of God, insinuated in those words, Know that I am God. I made, I rule the World.

The second, his particular Superinten­dency, and directing all affairs to his own Glory, in the next words, I will be exalted amongst the Heathen; I will be exalted on the Earth.

The third, his Constancy and eternal Fidelity to his Church, acknowledged and depended upon by them. The Lord of [Page 10] Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is o [...] Refuge.

I begin with the Duty injoyned, an holy Quiet, Be still. That there is nothin [...] in this world firm or stable; that as poo [...] men die from their Cottages, and greate [...] persons from their Houses, which the [...] have called by their own Names, so eve [...] Princes from the Throne, alas! I nee [...] not insist. Only when these last leave th [...] Stage, as it is in great Buildings, whe [...] Pillars fall, there is, at least, a dreadfu [...] Concussion of the whole Fabrick: so in Frame of State; when a King dies, especi­ally a Great one, a Gracious one, a Be­loved one, howevever most happily, as well as speedily and most seasonably, suc­ceeded, I cannot but believe (and I hope it will be esteemed no fault to profess plainly that I do believe) the Loyallest hearts amongst us all really tremble: not that we distrust God or our Prince, but we fear the Malice of the Enemy. Wherefore being we must acknowledge the publick Amusement, not to say Consternation, not yet to be quite over, it cannot be amiss to press, what the Text in such shaking jun­ctures injoyns, (which I have named) an holy Quiet: and I dare say it will con­tribute much to the Ease of all their [Page 11] Hearts, who will practice it.

Now such Quiet will consist (1.) In Pa­ [...]ience; excluding all Repining, all Com­ [...]laints and Murmuring. (2.) In Faith [...]nd humble Deference to God; excluding [...]ll Despondency and Pusillanimity. (3.) In [...]obriety, Peaceableness and observance of Or­ [...]er; excluding Temerity, Faction and [...]rivy Combinations upon any pretences [...]f publick Jealousies and Dangers. Per­mit, I beseech you, a word on each very [...]riefly, and, I hope, very modestly.

And first, as to the Quiet of Patience, which, I say, excludes all Repining, all Murmuring, all fruitless accusing of things and persons. Our Loss is indeed very great, and very fresh; it being not yet forty hours since, I think I may say, most of us had intelligence of it. But blessed be the same Hand that takes and together gives. Heaviness may endure for a night, but Joy cometh in the morning. Let us there­fore on this occasion not fall into that ini­quity of Impatience taxed by the Heathen Moralist (Iniquiores esse erga relicta ereptor [...]m desiderio) to be unjust estimators of what God has left us, through too impatient a sense of what he has taken away. Meekly to accept the deserved punishment of our Sins, is certainly as moderate a degree of [Page 12] Patience as any in reason can pay. Where­as then we have lost a most Gracious King must we not confess our selves to have de­served it, by the abuse of that Ease, Peace▪ Liberty and Plenty that we enjoyed un­der him, and yet were not contented? The consideration hereof must surely restrain­us.

1. From all repining at Gods hand, and charging him with Severity. There may be a further End in this Providence than we are aware of. Perhaps God does but design to commend and set off his future Mercies by the present Stroke. We have seen many a glorious fair Day after a clou­dy Morning. Seeing then we know not what God will bring forth, let us take care that we provoke him not to what, it may be, he does not yet intend: Howe­ver, 'tis as little Justice as can be, not to complain of him till we have real Rea­son. And,

2. The same consideration too should keep us so far within the bounds of Pati­ence, as not to repine against or accuse men. Be still also in this regard. There is so much wickedness of late in the world, and possibly some men know so much vil­lany by themselves, as makes them suspect very bad things of others: And it is too [Page 13] easie a step with many in the world, first [...]o suspect men, and then to charge them [...]ith what themselves have suspected of [...]hem. In the name of God let us be care­ [...]ul herein, and let no Grief transport us [...]eyond Charity and Justice. The hand of God we are sure is in all, and that alone: [...]et us eye, and pay thereto this first sort of Quiet, the Quiet of Patience: In your Pa­ [...]ience possess your Souls. Luk. xxi. 19.

And secondly, there is yet a nobler de­ [...]ree of Quiet, which also becomes us, the Quiet of Faith and good Hope, in opposition [...]o a base Abjectness of Mind and Despon­ [...]ency. Psal. xxxvii. 5. Commit thy way un­ [...]o the Lord; trust in him, and he shall bring [...] to pass, what thou dost justly desire. There can no case so disasterous or despe­ [...]ate befall good men, in which they ought [...]o let go their Confidence in God. Psal. [...]xii. 8. Trust in him at all times, O ye people; [...]our out your Hearts before him. God is a Re­ [...]uge; Let us first assure our Hearts before God of our honest and upright designs in [...]ll things, and then we ought to hold fast [...]ur Confidence; yes, and even a Rejoycing [...]f hope to the end. Heb. iii. 6. and again, chap. x. 35. Cast not away [let not go] your Confidence, which hath great recompence of Reward. Give me leave here to demand [Page 14] what reason have we not to hope well [...] What, almost, colour have we for ou [...] Despondencies? If we look up to God w [...] know that all things shall work together fo [...] good to those who love him. Rom. viii. 28▪ If we look to our King, I have already told you the blessed tidings, which with as grea [...] assurance as can be this day has brough [...] us. Truly I know nothing, which should possess us with any fears of such impend­ing Dangers, as many imagine, but only the publick Sins. As to these, let every one honestly reform his share thereof, and the [...] let us trust God, and believe our King, and he of good heart. Be still with a Quiet of Faith, and there may yet be expected an happy course of things both in Church and State.

My Brethren, the case is not with us as it seems to have been with the Faithful in this Psalm. The Earth is not removed, nor the Mountains carried into the midst of the Sea, (the Concussions are not so great as might have been feared, and in all appearance will not be such). And yet even in such case hear the Church in the words of the blessed Psalmist; God is our Refuge and Strength, our present help in the time of trouble. Therefore will we not fear, though the Earth be removed, and the Mountains [Page 15] carried into the midst of the Sea. Observe, [...]hough it were so, or though it should be [...], yet ought not the shaking of the worlds [...]oundation to shake our Faith. And it is till the more reasonable to press and [...]aintain this, the Quiet of Faith, for that [...]ertainly nothing can more operate to our Destruction, than unreasonable fears, and [...]he hurries and extravagancies that they will put us into. They will provoke God, [...]hey may provoke our King, they will in­ [...]ect the Minds of many, who haply are [...]et stable and loyal, and they will most [...]isorderly influence the Actions of all. Be [...]ill therefore in Faith and good Hope.

Lastly, the other part of holy Quiet lies [...]n the exercise of Sobriety: that we all of [...]s observe Order, keep each of us within his [...]wn sphere, enterfere not with one another, [...]r exceed not the bounds of our Cal­ [...]ing. It is a great evil of late that all sorts [...]f men are stangely commenced Politici­ [...]ns: scarce a Farmer, scarce a Foreman [...]f a Ship, but he can censure or dictate [...]o the Government. Certainly, my Bre­ [...]hren, if we will think soberly of our [...]elves, we are not all of us Statesmen, nay [...]e are few of us fit to be such. Let us [...]herefore be content to be governed by [...]ho [...]e that are wiser than our selves, and [Page 16] each man keep to his own business. Let Magistrates be vigilant in the Administra­tion of Justice, and restraining all that they find inclining to Turbulency. Let Ministers each in their place be watchful over the Flock: and if they observe a Sheep straying, seek after and reduce it before it be lost. We must above all men, both by Precept and Practice, put forwards an universal soberness of Order, as well as of good Conversation. And let the People in their several Orders mind their own Concerns, whether of Trade, or of whatever other kind. Let no one be a Busiebody, or Intermedler in other men [...] matters, and above all, not in State-Affairs. I have heard by them that have been in Battles, that if a Body can be but disor­dered and huddled, they are presently routed: they then destroy one another. I am sure Confusion, and mens disorderly going out of, or beyond their places, has a very fatal consequence in all other Societies of men, and carries with it, not only De­struction generally, but a great deal of Guilt. For where there is Confusion, there is also every evil work. Jam. iii. 16. In a word, let those, who are to govern, govern; and those who are to obey (which I conceive is the part of most of us) obey, [Page 17] and the World may be still in quiet.

There is one kind of Soberness (which I cannot forbear to touch on) not yet suggested; and that is Soberness in Talk and Language. If any of us still will nou­rish Fears, let us keep them to our selves, and be giddy alone. Let us not infect and disturb others. I will suppose I need not much press this: For a man would think some late practices amongst our Neigh­bours, if not yet amongst us, may have taught this part of the world Wit enough to be easily perswaded to regulate their Talk, or hold their Tongue.

Thus far then of this excellent Duty, so necessary at such seasons as this, when mens Imaginations are so up; an holy Quiet much becomes us, and will be very serviceable to us, which is, as you have heard, made up of Patience, Faith and So­berness.

Now to perswade hereto,

The first Argument in the Text is Gods general Providence; Know, saith the Lord, that I am God. In other terms, God rules the World. A Sense of this, one should think, would easily quiet the most im­broiled or imbroiling Spirits. There have been now of old a Sect of Wise men, as they would be thought, in the world, who [Page 18] have conceived it to be too servile an im­polyment, and too much discomposive of that Serenity and eternal Peace, which the Divine Nature must be conceived to be possest of, for God to interpose himself in the Government or Managery of mun­dane affairs: but these have ever been branded, and that most justly, by all truly wise men, with the imputation of Atheism. For it is the same thing, as to all power and effect of Religion, to deny God, and to deny Providence. For if God heeds not me, nor concerns himself about me, why should I consecrate and resign my self and all my concerns to him, which is the primary and most essential act of all true Religion? No, no, my Brethren, both our Reason and Christianity will teach us better things than these; Psal. lviii. 11. Verily there is a God that judgeth the world. And that God all along, in all vicissitudes and changes of things, does whatsoever pleaseth him in Heaven and Earth, in the Sea and in all deep places; Ps. cxxxv. 6. He controles, or, as he pleaseth, blasts the Power of his Enemies, and scorns their Ma­lice. When the Heathen rage, and the People imagine a vain thing; when they set themselves and to be counsel together, Ps. ii. 1, 2, &c. (that is, to speak more in the language of the [Page 19] times) amidst all the Cabals and Consults of men of malicious and unquiet Spirits, He that sitteth in the Heavens laughs, and [...]he most High hath them in derision: Yet [...]as he set his King upon his holy Hill of Sion: [...]nd there according to his Pleasure will keep him. Even the Wrath of men shall [...]raise him, and the Remainder of Wrath shall [...]e restrain. Wherefore consider this and [...]e still.

But more particularly; This Argument suits all the severals of the holy Quiet I have recommended.

First, If God govern the world, be pa­ [...]ient whatever comes; let him alone in his Government; for govern he will, let the world be never so unquiet. And who shall say to the great King of Heaven and Earth what doest thou? Let none be apt so much as to say in their hearts, God appears not in the present Course of things, but Men rule all. Alas! 'tis the most senseless Grossness to imagine so. All the Grandees on Earth are but the Almighties Agents: they act haply according to their own Counsels and Wills, but still they all only do Gods work, though they do not all see it. And who so considers God in and through all, will certainly be patient.

Again, this same Argument will per­swade [Page 20] the Quiet of Faith. For does Go [...] sit at the Helm of the World, and can hi [...] Servants have a better Friend here? Whom should we trust, if not him whom we have believed, whom we love, serve, and pretend totally to have given our selves to? yea, whom we will sometimes allow to love us more, and to be more care­ful of us, than our selves? as long there­fore as God governs the world let us be of good courage.

And lastly, as to the Quiet of Sobriety; can any thing more powerfully perswade us to keep our station than this Considera­tion, that the great Lord of all, in his course of Government of things, has here and thus placed every one of us, and eyes and heeds how we keep our posts? Even in this sense, Non deserenda est statio nisi Imperator maximus jusserit. I shall not be accountable for another mans business, nor that other for mine, but every one for his own; which most inevitably enforces, Let every man do his own business; let every man keep within the Calling wheren he is called by God.

Thus of the first Argument.

The second is Gods particular Superin­tendency in directing and ordering all things to his own Glory. This is it, which if we [Page 21] may believe many (and certainly there are [...]ot a few, who in this point are in all [...]harity to be believed); This, I say, cre­ [...]tes much concernment to many, what shall become of the Glory, what of the Truth of God? To this God in the Text answers, I will be exalted amongst the Hea­ [...]hen; I will be exalted in the Earth. The Heathen, we know, is but a part of the World, namely, that part that knows not God. He will be exalted even amongst them. The Earth is a more comprehen­sive Name, and besides the Heathen, be­sides all that do not and all that will not know God, comprehends all that know and love him too; amongst one and the other will God be exalted: For he will be exalt­ed on the Earth. This very case, we know, was the case of Elijah, 1 Kings xix. 10. He was apt to think, in his days God had no [...] so well provided for his Worship, and the succession of the Truth in h [...]s Church as he might have done: and [...]o his complaint herein, he receives only this answer; Go, return on thy way to Damas­cus, Elijah; and when thou comest thither, anoint Hazael to be King of Syria, &c. Yet have I left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that hath not kissed him. ver. 15. 16, [Page 22] 17, 18. In other terms, thou hast been very jealous for me, as thou sayst. Elijah, (God grants this in that he doth not deny it) but do not thou macerate and perplex thy self about my Glory: leave that to me, and go thou on thy way, do thy bu­siness; discharge the Commands I give thee: 'Tis my part to make Kings, thine only to anoint them I have made so. But whereas thou sayst, Thou, even thou only, art left in Israel of the true Worshipers of God; thou art much mistaken in the com­puting the Number of my Church. In Israel it self (as corrupt as it is) besides the vast numbers in the Kingdom of Ju­dah; In Israel it self I have seven thousand to the one thou hast named. Trouble not thy self therefore with fruitless thought­fulness as to Succession, taking thy self thereby off from d [...]arge of thy Prophe­tical Office; I have secured my Truth, my Worship, my Glory, my Church at a bet­ter rate than thou canst imagine. And I pray you, my Brethren, remember, 'tis the same God that reigns in Heaven still; nor is he now less solicitous of his Glory than then he was Can any of us pretend to be wiser than the Omniscient? He must know therefore how more fitly to order all things to his own Glory than do we: [Page 23] Can any of us pretend to be more power­ful than the Almighty? He must there­fore be more able to manage all to his Glory than we; and certainly he will not be unfaithful to himself. I pray you con­sider, were it not a most unheard of Saw­ciness, not to say Blasphemy, should any of us say to God, Let me a while govern in thy room, and dispose of things, and see if I do not put them into better order for thy Glory? Now what do we less than this, if we are not content with Gods Methods, or go about to disturb the course he puts things into? I do not disswade any from being concerned for the Honour of God. Far be it from me! It is a good argument of the Love of God and Virtue, when we resent the Affronts which both meet with from the Wickedness of Men: And besides it will put us upon the Refor­mation of our selves, and of as many as we can amend: But when such Zeal breaks out into Discontent, Repining or Desponden­cy of the Cause of God and Religion, or puts men on stepping beyond the bounds of their Calling, it is blamable and sinful, and deserves another kind of Reprimand than God gave Elijah.

And particularly, this Argument will perswade first the Quiet of Patience. For [Page 24] being we have seen God so infinitely quali­fied for the supreme Superintendency over all things and persons; being also we can­not believe, he will be true to himself, we ought to conclude he will gain Glory to himself even by those very things, by which we may foolishly imagine he forfeits or hazards his Glory. Wherefore if we will not be most unreasonable, we must be patient.

Again, this Consideration also enforces particularly the Quiet of Faith. If the Al­mighty and the Alwise has resolved that he will be exalted amongst the Heathen, and in all the Earth too, you may easily be confident he will be so. A little Faith, one should think, should suffice men to believe God will be true to his own concerns, that is, to his Glory, Truth and Church.

And lastly, This no less enforces the Quiet of Sobriety. For what greater mad­ness can there be conceived, when we pro­sess to believe God thus resolved and in­tent on his business, and to have put all things into the wisest and best order, than for us to interpose and disturb this Or­der? And yet every man does disturb that Order, who makes a step out of his Calling, that is, out of the Order, Place and Degree God has put him into. [Page 25] Wherefore seeing God not only governs the World in general, but particularly directs all to the exalting of his own Glo­ry, if the Glory of God be dear to us, as we profess it is, and if we believe that God is God, let us be quiet with a Qui­et both of Patience, Faith and Sobrie­ty.

The third and last Argument in the Text perswading still the same Duty, is Gods Presence, Patronage and everlasting Constancy to his Church, celebrated here by the Psalmist in the name of the Church; (for in the last verse he brings in the Church speaking thus) The Lord of Hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our Refuge, And it it is observable this is the great Chorus in this most glorious and lofty An­them. It in a sort began the Psalm. God is our Refuge, ver. 1. but word for word we have in ver. 7. and it closes all in the Text. Indeed the Consideration of Gods Presence with, and Protection of, his Church cannot be to much thought of, nor too often sung by the Faithful. The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our Refuge. Oh! how sweet is it both to Ear and Heart! He is with us not on­ly as God, but as the Lord of Hosts. And should Hosts fail, he is with us as a Re­fuge [Page 26] too; and as may be supplyed from another place, as our Portion and exceeding great Reward.

When poor Croesus (not long before as much a prodigy of Wealth as then of Mi­sery) was led captive in Chains at the Command of his Conqueror Cyrus, into whose hands he had fallen by the Fraud of Apollo (otherwise to be called the Devil) of Delphos, whom alone above all their Dei­ties he had honoured with Gifts, he re­quested of his Conquerour one small Boon, before his Execution, which he instantly expected; namely, [...], that sending those Chains then as a Present, he might ask that Grecian God, [...] Whether it were his Ʋsage to put Cheats upon Benefactors his Worshippers. This was a Reproach indeed most justly due to the Father of Lyes: But the Worshippers of the God of the God of Jacob can never lay such Imputation upon him. Our Fathers trusted in thee, they trust­ed and thou didst deliver them. They cryed unto thee and were delivered, they trusted in thee and were not confounded. For thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the Praises of Israel! Psal. 3, 4, 5. And he, the same God, hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Wherefore let this [Page 27] Consideration also induce such Stillness and holy Quiet as has now several times been prest.

Particularly again, this Consideration also most reasonably may induce the Quiet of Patience: For whose Will ought we to pay more absolute Deference to, than to the Will of our most faithful Protector, our sure Refuge and eternal Portion?

The Quiet of Faith: For who fitter to be relyed upon than he who never deceiv­ed a cordial Confident?

And the Quiet of Sobriety: For if by ex­ceeding our Calling, or going out of our place we come into misery, it is not so much God that has brought it upon us, as we that have run our selves into it. We might have been safe, if we had kept within the Boundaries God set us.

I have now done with my Text; at least in the Acceptation or Reference I chose to take it in. I know not what remains, except any should expect that I should touch upon it in that other Reference I said it might admit; namely, as applicable to the Enemies of the Church. For to them also God may be conceived with great reason here to speak; Be you still, and know that I am God.

And there are not a few, were they [Page 28] within hearing, that have need of thi [...] Lesson: such, I mean, who have long hoped for, and otherwise, as well as in their mad Carouses, prayed for the Confusion of our Church and Religion, that is (I may say it without the least Arrogancy or Prevarication) the most loyal Church and Religion in the World; that, I mean, by Law establisht. God forgive them, and in these hopes God deceive them! In the mean while let them know the Lord is God. And as we have made it our business to consider and study our Duty, so by Gods Grace we will perform it. We will be still, that is, patient and hopeful, sober and loyal: and we do not doubt, but the Lord of Hosts will be with us, and the God of Jacob will be still our Refuge. We can with the assurance of good Conscience take up the words of that holy King Ahijah, animating himself and his People in a more difficult condition than, God be blessed, ours is, or, we hope, is like to be; 2 Chr. xiii. 10. As for us the Lord is our God, and we have not forsaken him: We have retain­ed, and do retain his Faith and Worship pure as once delivered to the Saints. We have endeavoured, and in humble sincerity we can say we do endeavour to perform the Conditions of his promised Presence and [Page 29] Protection; and so long we depend upon his Promises. Nor do we list to reflect upon our Adversaries Practices, though we could.

Further, besides our Gods Promises, we have our Kings Promises too for the sup­port of our Minds: and some men must pardon us, if we give a thousand times more credit to His Majesties Royal Word than to their airy Hopes or ventose Brava­does. We do not believe His Majesty will esteem their vain Insultings over their fel­low Subjects any part of Loyalty or Ser­vice to him. His Majesty has, God be blessed, amongst his very Enemies the cha­racter of a wise Prince, and of a magna­nimous Prince: and there is nothing far­ther off from such Temper than to ap­prove Insolencies. Wherefore let as ma­ny of the Adversaries of our Church, of all sorts, as hear me this day, take the Text as spoken unto them also. Be ye still, and know that the Lord is God.

But to conclude, in a word to all; lay­ing aside our private Humours and little mutual Piques at Persons and Parties too, if possible, let us all joyn in a Quiet of Peace and Christian Charity, which I toucht not till now, resolving to close with it. And to press this, I should think no Argu­ment [Page 30] need to be used but our own Interest. Here are a multitude of us present that are old enough to remember what our eyes have seen, (and may we never see the se­cond time!) the Miseries and Desolati­ons, the Cruelties and Ravages of Civil Wars. Can we be fond of them? or does not Horror seize us when we reflect on those dreadful Idea's, though almost worn out? For our own sakes then, as well for Gods and Religions, let us all study to be quiet, and to do our own business. And if we meet with any, who either by their secret Perswasions, or Combina­tions, or by their whispering Fears and Jealousies, Designs and Stories contrary to what you have heard of His Majesties Roy­al Intentions and Declaration; who, I say, either by these or any other methods, we have reason to believe are endeavour­ing to di [...]urb the publick Peace, and em­broyl things; let us in the name of God discover them. Better such men suffer than we, than all. And especially let us empty our own minds, and dispossess our selves of such Jealousies. Fears and Jealousies did undo us once: God in his mercy restored all, King, and Church, and Religion. The same Fears and Jealousies have bid fair to destroy all again. God has hitherto hin­dred [Page 31] it. In the name of God let us not tempt him again thereby to destroy us; or let not us our selves destroy our selves by the old unreasonable methods. In a word, as I have said before, but repeat, that it may be more surely practised. Let us trust God, and next trust our King, be quiet, loyal and circumspect in our places; and I doubt not but all things will go well with us and the whole Israel of God.

Which God grant: And to Him be all Glory, Praise and Thanksgiving now and for ever. Amen.

THE Reasons and Need OF Loyal Devotion.
Set forth in a SERMON, before the Mayor, Aldermen and Citizens of Cork, and many of the Gentry, assembled in Christchurch, in the City of Cork, on St. Georges day, Apr. 23. 1685. being the Day of the Coronation of His Gracious Majesty James II.

WE are here assembled of our own free accord, and by a general agreement amongst our selves, upon occasion of His Majesties (we trust) most happy Coronation in England this pre­sent [Page 2] day, and, as we may guess, about this time, I believe, if we think never so much on the Subject, we can devise no other thing we can do whereby we can in this instant contribute to make his Crown sit long, easie and secure on his Head, but the offering up our hearty and sincere Prayers to that purpose: which, because in the present instance a free-will Offering, ought for that reason, after the manner of all free-will Offerings, to be the more cheer­ful and affectionate.

I exhort therefore that first of all, Suppli­cations, Prayers, Intercessions, and giving of Thanks be made for all men: for Kings, and all that are in Authority. Which Ex­hortation manifestly depends on the 18th verse of the foregoing chapter; This Charge I commit to thee, Son Timothy, that according to the Prophesies which have been of thee, thou warr a good warfare, that is, thou di­ligently and strenuously discharge the Of­fice of a Bishop. As the Roman Empe­rors used when they sent forth their Pre­fects or Governours into their Provinces, to give them their Instructions with them, so says Grotius, does St. In loc. Paul here to Timothy, and in him to other Bishops, sent forth unto their Churches. And of those Instructions, this, the due [Page 3] ordering and constituting the publick Prayers of the Church, was the first. I exhort therefore first of all; for after­wards, as we might shew you, by parti­culars, he gives him many further Com­mands. Now as to the Contents of the publick Prayers, or of Liturgies, he re­quires that they consist of Supplications, Prayers, Intercessions and giving of Thanks: and what is the particular import of these several terms ought (at least in transitu) as we pass to our main design, to be consi­dered.

Some have thought that one Theoph. Cast. Cameron. &c and the same thing is here sig­nified by several expressions, only in divers regards; so that the pub­lick Prayers should be called Supplications, as they testifie before God our wants; Pe­titions, [...] as they express the desires of our Souls: and [...] Intercessions, as asking with humble boldness, and not dif­fidently. But I really believe St. Pauls words to have more Epistola 59. ad Pauli­nam. in them: and so St. Austin (most fully of the Ancients) and di­vers Moderns, have taught us: out of all whom very briefly I shall present a Sum­mulary or Abstract. [...], Supplications are generally understood such Prayers, by [Page 4] which we deprecate Evils, whence the word is anciently by St. Ambrose and St. Austin, as well as by more modern Wri­ters, rendred Deprecations. In plain terms, we may conceive for our distincter under­standing hereby meant such Prayers as now we style Litanies, wherein we pray that God would deliver us from the seve­ral evils of Soul and Body. And these are Impensior Oratio, as St. Jerome glosses the word, a more earnest kind of Prayer.

[...], Petitions (or Prayers in a stricter sense of the name are such Addresses to God, by which we ask that good things may be bestowed on us. I judge hereby specially signified such Prayers as general­ly our Collects are.

[...], Intercessions, or interposing with God for Interpellatio pro aliorum salute Theod Beza, Cor­nel. à Lapid. &c. the Safety of others, seems very properly to denote such Prayers as have been ever since the primitive age used at the Communion for the whole Estate of Christs Church militant on Earth.

And then as to giving of Thanks (whe­ther for our own or others Mercies) there can be no doubt of its plain & certain diffe­rence from all the rest. And not only the Te Deum & other Hymns of the Church; but in [Page 5] an especial manner, the close of the fore­mentioned Prayer, blessing the Name of God for all his Saints (which is a very an­cient part of the Office of the Eucharist) will properly suit thereto: So that in short we find here the blessed Apostle pre­scribing or directing a kind of Liturgy in the Christian Church, and that consisting of such parts and Offices as our present Service Book consists of. And this he gives as the very first point in charge to Timo­thy.

To proceed: Such Prayers as these must be made for all men. This, saith St. Chrysostome, the Apostle begins with, that his Injunction which follows, For Kings and all that are in Authority, might not be misjudged to proceed from slattery to them that were in power. The Fathers conjecture is not to be contemned, yet doubtless there was further reason for the Practice enjoyned; it is but an agreeable product of the Chri­stian Spirit or Temper: Christianity both teaches and implants universal Charity. We are to love all men, and therefore to pray for all men.

For Kings and them that are in Authority. The Greeks, saith Grotius, called the Roman Emperors Kings, not regarding so much the name as the thing it self: And then by pro­portion, [Page 6] [the [...]] they that are i [...] Authority will be the Presidents of the Provinces. I acknowledge the note is learned and wholesom; yet if we explain St. Paul out of St. Peter, the Text will be more plain, or the Words understood in a way more accommodate to the present forms of Government, 1 Pet. ii. 13, 14. Submit your selves, saith he, to every Ordi­nance of Man, whether it be to the King as Supreme, or unto Governours, as those that are sent by him. By Kings we understand those who are supreme, those who have within their Dominions the highest Autho­rity under God and Christ, independant on any other. And such I conceive, none here believe any one to be within these Kingdoms, but His present Majesty James the second, whom God preserve. By Go­vernours, those who are commissionated by the Sovereign. For both, and all, we are especially, i. e. expresly by the Apostles com­mand to supplicate in our publick Church Prayers.

There are more Heads might be insisted on from hence than I am willing to detain you with at present: but of any two Pro­positions that I can pitch on deducible hence, these following are most compre­hensive of the whole.

[Page 7] 1. Prop. In the publick Service of the Church there ought to be Prayers, Sup­plications, Petitions and giving of Thanks for all men.

2. Prop. In an especial manner such pub­lick Prayers (and that of all the kinds mentioned) ought to be made for Kings and all subordinate Governours.

I will speak a few things briefly of the first, as a good and proper foundation (for it hath seemed such to the Holy Ghost in the Text) as a proper foundation, I say, to the second. We are in our pub­lick Prayers to make Supplications, Peti­tions and Thanksgivings for all men. And I have already suggested the indefensible ground or foundation hereof. Christia­nity teaches and induces universal Charity, or Love to all men; to Aliens and Ene­mies (we know) as well as to Fellow-na­tives and Friends. I cannot therefore sim­ply either approve or justifie that distincti­on (which the parsimonious Charity of some applies here) interpreting the All men in the Text meerly of the Genera singul [...]rum, not the singuli Generum. We are here commanded, say they, to pray for all sorts and degrees of men, but not for all the men of each sort and degree: there are many particular persons for whom we ought not to pray.

Obj. As to what they bring in proof hereof, that the Apostle has given us a li­mitation, (1 Joh. v. 16.) There is a Sin unto Death; I do not say that ye shall pray for it, that is, as appears by the Context, for them who commit it; I allow it Sol. to be true (and God forbid but all men should allow it as such, for 'tis express Scripture); but I assert it to be in the pre­sent state of the Church generally unapplica­ble as a rule of Practice. For

1, What is a Sin unto Death (pro hic & nunc) we know not, I mean in this or that mans ordinary practice, we are not able, (I am sure I have not met with that judicious person living who has dared) to determine. If God would be severe, or but exactly just, if, as the Prophet speaks, he should lay Judgment to the Line, and Righteousness to the Plummet, there is no Sin at all which would not be unto death: but now that through Christ Jesus all who believe are justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the Law of Mo­ses, (Act. xxii. 39.) we know no Sins un­pardonable, that is, unto Death, but either (1.) Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, (which if we know what it is, we cannot, I think, judge properly incident into the present age; if we do not know, though [Page 9] we should hear a man to commit it, we could not be assured he in that sinned un­to Death); or (2.) Such Sins which are an utter defeisance of the Covenant of Grace, of which kind, as far as I am able to see, we know none, but final Ʋnbelief and fi­nal Impenitence; and till men are dead in their unbelief and impenitence we are not sure (though we may strongly fear) that God will not give them Faith and Repen­tance, that is, we are not sure their Un­belief or Impenitence will be final, that is, we know not that they have yet sinned unto Death: Wherefore if they are so bad that we can pray for nothing else in their behalf, yet may we most charitably pray that God would give them Faith and Repentance, though they come in even in the end of the eleventh hour of the day.

There was indeed in the miraculous days a miraculous Gift of discerning of Spi­rits; and I will not say, but St. John and other like inspired persons might be able hereby to perceive what men sinned unto death, and when, how, and in what acts: But I think there is none, but mad men, will in the present age pretend to this Gift, and then there will be no knowing who will sin unto death, that is, be finally [Page 10] incredulous or impenitent, except God should reveal it to us. Besides, as just now intimated, none can be said to be incredu­lous or impenitent finally, that is, to their end, till their end, that is till their death: and we do not teach to pray for any per­sons longer. Wherefore it remains, ex­cept God should reveal to any of us that such and such particular persons were in­corrigible, and by him eternally rejected from all Grace, and so by immediate In­spiration, or voice from Heaven, interdict us to pray for them, I conceive in the pre­sent [...]ate of the Church we stand bound in charity to pray for all men, (at least, that God would give them repentance) as long as they are in this life, or on this side Hell, be they never so wicked. Fur­ther.

2. If that Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, which our Lord has declared (Matt. xii. 31, 32.) shall not be forgiven unto men, either in this world, or that which is to come, were, as in all probability it was, the Jews malicious ascribing those Miracles to Beelzebub the Prince of Devils, which in their Consciences they were convinced he did by the power of the Holy Ghost, then by reason of the Cessation of Miracles no man of the present age is capable of it; [Page 11] and therefore is no man now, upon sup­position of this sin, to be excluded from our Prayers.

In a word, as the world goes, I know not how there is any maintaining Charity or the true Christian Temper, without strict observing the Apostles injunction in my Text. For allow this, that we are not to pray for those who have sinned a sin unto death, and withal that sins unto death are in the present age as certainly to be known, as they are commonly com­mitted, there will be few men, if they have but ill nature enough to maintain en­mities, whose Malice will not byass their Judgments to pronounce their Enemies to have sinned a sin unto death, and so there will be no loving of Enemies, or praying for them; at least, there will be a proper method to absolve us from the Obligation of that our Lords Command of loving our Enemies, and blessing those that curse us, so proper to the Religion by him insti­tuted.

Wherefore, by the way, give me leave from hence to recommend unto you the Prudence, Piety and Integrity of the first Re­formers of our Church, and consequently the Soundness of the Reformation it self. The first thing the Apostle gives in charge here [Page 12] to Timothy, in order to the settling the Church of Ephesus, is the due constituting the publick Prayers. The first part of the Reformation was the compiling the Liturgy of our Church, and that almost in the very form we at present have it. The primi­tive publick Prayers by the Apostolical In­junction in the Text were to consist of Supplications Petitions, Intercessions and giv­ing of Thanks. And St. Chrysostome on the Text tells us, in his time the practice of the Church was accordingly; The Priests all know, saith he, how this is performed every day both morning and evening. Our Liturgy does consist of Confessions, Suffrages or Li­tanies, of Collects, of Prayers for the whole Church, Hymns and Eucharistical Devoti­ons, parts perfectly conformable to what was then both enjoyned and practised. And these, according to the Apostle, were to be made for all men, and, as Chrysostome tells us, were actually so made. We pray accordingly in our Litany, That it please thee to have mercy upon all men. Besides we have other Prayers for all sorts and con­ditions of men: But especially for King [...], saith the Apostle, and all that are in Autho­rity. And that these Prayers, according to Order, in our Liturgy are offered up morning and evening, I need not tell you: [Page 13] but as led hereby, proceed to my main design.

Proposition II. Publick Prayers of the Church, in all kinds, are to be made for Kings and all in Authority.

Nothing can be more expresly said in terms, than this is in the present Text. And it gives a very great emphasis to the Apostles Injunction, and so makes our Ob­li [...]ation to the Duty much the stronger, if we consider, when this Epistle was writ, or in what days the Apostle laid this Charge on Timothy; namely, in the first year of Nero's being Emperor of Rome, according to Baronius, in his third year, say others; all agree 'twas under his Em­pire. What Nero was for a Monster of a man, as to all Villanies imaginable, I need not speak: nor will you easily think the Governours sent by him, viz. the Pre­fects of the Army or Provinces, were most of them much better than their Emperour. And such a long time continued the Em­perours and the other Powers; [...] as S. Chry­sostome In loc. expresses it, ungodly men succeeding ungodly men: so that, Quot erant eo tempore magistratus, tot Eccle­siae hostes atque Idolatriae. As many Bez. in loc. Magistrates as there were; so many [Page 14] Enemies were there of the Church, so many Idolaters, and, God knows, vast multi­tudes more by their example. Yet even for these did the Apostle injoyn constant Prayers daily to be made in the Church. So that we must necessarily, if we mind this circumstance, apply hereto that of the Apostle St. Peter, as to be subject to, so to pray for, not only the good and gentle, but also [...], the froward or perverse.

Yet let none, by the way, be so vile as to make here any misconstruction. God be blessed, we have no need to apply this Emphasis in our circumstances. We have a King most Gracious, who protects us in our Religion, and has again and again promised so to do, of which we have most publick and ample assurance. How­ever, as long as there are such infer­nal Spirits in humane shape, as are at this day many of the Scotch Covenanters, who will not so much as say God save or God bl [...]ss the King to save themselves from the Gallows, it was not fit to omit this ob­servation of the Date of this Epistle. For hereby, let the King have been what he could be to them, they are convicted by our Apostles Doctrine, to have renounced their Christianity in this case, with their [Page 15] Allegiance and Duty to their King: let them dye what they would, they dyed no Christians.

It is not impossible there are others in the world, who, though to save not only their Lives, but their Estates, they will, and do pray for the King, yet do it not either out of good Affection, or Conscience of their Christian Duty. Wherefore give me leave here, besides the meer Evidence of the Text, to add some other, that the Duty we hence learn may appear to be of no such indifferent or inferiour rank, as that men may omit or forbear it with a Salvo to their Integrity and good Consci­ence. And though I know my Audience too well to judge them of this kind, yet will not this be an unprofitable labour: for certainly none of us can have too deep or quick a sense of any point of our Chri­stian Duty.

Now in the entrance on this Evidence, I will say in general, we have all the Obli­gation to this Duty, that we can have to any Duty in the World. Besides the Obli­gation from human Laws, which I will not yet touch on, we have all obligation I can conceive possible,

• 1. From Scripture and our common Christianity, And
• [Page 16]2. From Reason and Prudence. And
• 3. From Equity and good Nature.

From Scripture or common Christianity: The sum of the Obligations we can have thence can well amount no higher than ex­press Commands (and them urged with the greatest instance) and constant Practice or Example.

As to Command. Nothing can be, as already said, more express, nothing more emphatical than the Text, of which one thing remains that I have not yet noted; namely, how the Apostle in the progress of his Discourse presses this Practice with sundry Arguments, and the greatest ear­nestness, That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all Godliness and Honesty; ver. 2. Here he presses it from the Fruits of this Practice; This good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; ver. 3. Here from the Will of God, who would have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the Truth; ver. 4. Here from the Divine Nature or Philanthropy and Goodness of God, which we ought to imi­tate: and ver. 8. he concludes the Subject; I will therefore that men pray every where; namely, in the kinds and ways before di­rected.

Again, I say, nothing can easily be more [Page 17] emphatical. But we may look much fur­ther back, Eccles. x. 20. Curse not the King, no not in thine heart. If negative Precepts, as Divines tell us, include the opposite af­firmative, this will be a Command to pray for Kings in our Souls, as well as in our words, and in secret as well as in our Churches. However 'tis well worthy our notice, what sense the Jewish Doctors had of this Precept, who tell us generally, that throughout their whole Law, Thoughts are no were forbidden, nor can Sin be committed by them meerly, except in the present case, and in that other of worshipping false Gods: And pursuant hereto, which is very wonderful, was their general practice, yea even towards the Heathen Emperors; When they chose all of the rather to dye, than place Cai­us's Statue in their Temple, they at the same time professed, that they daily offer­ed Sacrifice to the true God in their Tem­ple for him. Joseph. de Bello Judaic. lib. 2. c. 9. On such Practice, now a long time received in the Jewish Church, before Christ, was it that the Apostles here so earnestly gives this in charge to Timothy. We have seen thus the Christian Law o [...] Command and the ancient occasion ther [...] of.

Now as to Christian Example. There can be no doubt but that the Apostles Practice was agreeable to their own Do­ctrine. And as for the succeeding ages of the Christian Church, one passage of Chrysostom has been produced already, and to wave that multitude of other Testimonies, and some of the very Forms of Prayer, which might be produced in this case, we will content our selves with that known and most full one (of undoubted authority) in Tertullian, who wrote about 200 years after Christ; Thither (that is to Heaven) saith he, we Christians looking up, with hands or arms stretched open, because innocent; with heads and faces uncovered, because we blush not; without any instigator, because from our hearts, we pray for all Emperors, beseeching to them a long Life, a secure Reign, a safe Family, valiant Armies, a faithful Senate, a loyal Commonalty, and a peaceable World, and whatsoever are the wishes of men, or of the Cesars themselves. This was he able then most truly to plead in apology for Chri­stianity: and at that time, and for above an hundred years after, such a thing as a Christian King was not known. When the Emperors became Christian, you can­not but conclude it was much more so.

In sum then, as to Obligation from [Page 19] Scripture, and the common Chistianity, if either express or importunate Com­mand, or constant Practice of the Christi­an Church (which is the sum of what Ob­ligations we can have thence) will make it an indispensible Duty, to pray for Kings, we have both.

Now as to Obligations from Reason and Prudence; perhaps that of our own Inte­rest, the Benefit which hence amounts, to the publick, and so to all private per­sons of whom the publick body is made up, may be looked upon as the most effe­ctual reason, or best prudential ground assignable. Interest commonly fails not to more; let it then prevail here. Let it therefore be considered;

1. Kings and Governours are the Safe­guard of the People, the great Security of the publick Weal. The Scripture expres­ly calls the Rulers of a Nation its Shields, in Hos. iv. 18. We indeed in our Trans­lation have the word Rulers there: but in the original Hebrew it is the Shields; which Text most naturally explains Psal. xlvii. 10. The Shields of the Earth belong unto the Lord; that is the Kings of the Earth, who are its Shields, are Gods Subjects and pe­culiar right: which is most plain by the foregoing verses, ver 7. God is King over [Page 20] all the Earth. Then he divides Earth in­to the Heathen and Jews, ver. 8. God reigneth over the Heathen. ver. 9. The Prin­ces of the people are gathered together, even of the pe [...]ple of the God of Abraham. Finally, in the tenth verse he conjoyns or puts all together again; The Shields of the Earth belong unto God, he is gre [...]tly exalted; name­ly, he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Nor will any doubt the truth of this Scri­pture assertion, or justice of the phrase, who shall but think with himself what a forlorn, helpless, despicable thing the most populous Nation is without an Head▪ In 1 Sam xi. we have a Story which will ful­ly illustrate this matter, ver. 2. Nahush the King of the Ammonites offers these in­solent Conditions to the Israelites, upon which he will accept them for his Ser­vants; On this Condition will I make a Co­venant with you, that I may thrust out all your right Eyes, and lay it as a Reproach upon Israel. And what said all the mighty men of Israel to this? All the people lift up their voice and wept; ver. 4 All the people were not a few; ver. 8. The Children of Israel were three hundred tho [...]sand, and the Men of Judah thirty thous [...]nd. A pretty num­ber indeed to lift up their voice and weep at a vain mans scornful Rodomantade! [Page 21] What's the matter with them? The point was, there was yet, in effect, no King in Israel. Saul indeed was just anointed King, chap. x. but he had not yet taken upon him the actual Exercise of his King­ly Power: he lived yet pri [...]ately in Gibeah of Saul, and was coming after the Herd out of the Field. cap. xi. 5. But when Saul heads them, they had now one to save them, as the expression is, ver 3. and having put the people into three Companies (drawn them into three Squadrons) they slew the Ammo­nites until the heat of the day, and they that remained of them were so scattered, that t [...]o of them were not left together, ver. 11. so great a Strength and Shield was their new King already become to Israel. And I be­seech you, Brethren consider it, if not from this instance, from any other you please. There is nothing more exposes a People to be the most easie prey to their far weaker Enemies, than Anarchy, or want of Governours. To their Enemies shall I say? Nay, there is nothing more exposeth them to themselves In those disorders and dreadful civil Wars which ensued thereon, the History of which makes up the five last Chapters of the Book of Judges; the reason of all that fatal series of Events is no less than four times incul­ [...]aled [Page 22] in these numerical words, In those days there was no King in Israel, chap. xvii. 4. xviii. 1. xix. 1. and xxi. 25. I will not [...]ub on old sores; but we may remember what days they were when there was no King in our Israel. Wherefore if we love our own and three Nations Safety, let this reason move us to be constan [...] in our Pray­ers for our King and Governours.

2. Let it be considered further, Kings happy and prudent Government is the Rule [...]nd Measure of the Peoples Flourishing and Pros [...]e [...]ity. As things are managed by the Prince with more or less Prudence, Justice and Conduct; so for the main do the Peo­ple more or less grow and advance, stand or decline in all, at least, outward felicities. The Ben [...]its of his good Managery are grea­ [...]er than I am able to give account of▪ and the cont [...]ary as disma [...]ly, and generally to­ [...].

First▪ A word particularly to the Bene­ [...]its thereof▪ for of them the Context takes [...]ice; That we may [...]ive [...] quiet and peace­ [...]le [...] in all Godline [...]s and Honesty. The [...]postle, as becomes [...]im, takes notice [...] o [...] spiritual goods, or, at least, ad­ [...]antages [...]ending to them. And some Be­ [...]e [...]its [...]o themselves particularly shall all [...] persons [...]ndoubtedly [...]eap, who [Page 23] are conscientio [...]s in the discharge of this Duty. B [...]t we may hope, where all joyn with united and constant Devotion there­in he that [...]ear [...]h Prayer▪ will not be deaf to his Servants who [...]ry night and day to him: Rather, that to so universal and so importuna [...]e Prayers he will give in a ple­ [...]ophory of Blessings; Blessings in heavenly things, the f [...]ourishing of Religion, the Reformation of mens Manners, the ad­vance of Union and Charity, and like Be­nefits. Oh▪ how much to be wished for to the Church of God▪ and that happy outward advantage hereto, publick Peace and Quiet which gives all sorts of men all [...]pportunies of Godliness and Ho [...]esty. No [...]e [...]s than these are the fruits of Kings good Administration, Prov. xx. 8, 26. A wise King that sitte [...]h on the To [...]ne, scattere [...]h [...]ay all evil with his eyes. He scattereth the [...]icked, and bring [...]th the Wheel [...]er them. The Wheel in the Eastern Countries was oftentimes the instrument to thresh with; [...]nd 'tis here put in all [...]sion thereto, to [...]ignifie the infliction of such punishment, which either severs the sound and useful from the rotten and unprofitable▪ or [...]reaks in piec [...]s what withstands▪ Now [...]he issue thereof the same holy Author tell; [...]s; When the wicke [...] peri [...] the rig [...]e [...]us in­crease. [Page 24] ch. xxviii. ult. And no less than those may we hope will be the fruits of our loyal Prayers.

But further, where we may look for the greater, much more for the less. If then the concerns of Religion and the prosperity of our Souls depend so much on the Princes pious and prudent Administra­tion, much more do those of our civil Li­berties and Property. The better the pub­lick affairs are managed, the better it is generally for all private persons; The Princes own share of fruition is usually the least: for the happiest Effects of his best and wisest Councils cannot well be greater than these two,

In both, it may be truly said of all good Kings and Princes concerned in either, or blessed with both, Vos, non vobis, it is not for themselves they labour or succeed; the great Benefit still redounds to the peo­ple, or to publick bodies.

As on the contrary, secondly. If in their Counsels or Enterprises Kings miscarry, the ill Success usually falls heavy on the multitude. Though the Prince be but one man, and have but one Life to lose, yet be sure he can never fall alone. Nay [Page 25] when the Providence of God, whose pecu­liar care Kings are, in the midst of many publick calamities, preserves their per­sons safe and untouched, very often, ac­cording the methods and ancient proceed­ings of his sovereign Wisdom, great num­bers of the people fall. Zech. x. 3. Mine anger was kindled against the Shepherds, and I punished the Goats. We knnow it was no otherwise in the transgression of that holy King, the man after Gods own heart: David numbred the people, but the people who were numbred suffered. In which kind of cases there is more strict Justice in God, than all men generally are aware of. For that the Princes Sins, for which God at any time immediately or proximately takes punishment, are usually the Effect of some other Sins of the People; as in the very in­stance of Davids Sin mentioned 2 Sam. xxiv. 1. The anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he moved [that is, as appears by the narrative hereof (1 Chron. xxi. 1.) he suffered Satan, who stood up a­gainst Israel, to provoke or move] David to number Israel. Davids Sin was the punish­ment of the Peoples Sin, and so the Peo­ple most justly suffered for it. A like case we have, 2 Kings xxiv. last. Through the an­ger of the Lord it came to pass in Jerusalem [Page 26] and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the King of Babylon. King Zedekiahs breaking Covenant with Nebuchadnezzer was his own Sin, yet he fell into it by Gods being provoked with his Peoples Ini­quities, and so it justly operated to the casting them out of Gods presence, that is, out of the Holy Land. And I must here boldly, but truly, say; whatsoever there is, that in our judgment is amiss in our Gracious King His present Majesty, is the Effect of the Sins of a great multitude of his people, either now living, or in the memory of many of us dead. If our King be not fully of our Religion, who were they, that when they had by rebellious Arms first deposed, then murdered the Fa­ther, afterwards drove the whole Royal Progeny into strange Countries, where they found more kindness from them of a foreign Religion, than from the body of their native Subjects? God divert from the three Nations the Plagues yet due to that Rebellion▪ and its consequent Villa­nies! In the mean while let the present consideration, how Princes miscarriages light heavy, and that most justly, on their Subjects, as well as on the contrary their prudent and pious Conduct so vastly ad­vanceth [Page 27] both the spiritual and temporal Prosperity of their people; let, I say, this most reasonable consideration move all of us to be duly devout in offering Supplica­tions, Prayers and Intercessions for our King, and all sent by him. Those great Rationalists who scarce will admit any o­ther Law of Nature, allow Self-preserva­tion to be such. I say, even this obliges us to pray for Kings, and that most ar­dently; 'tis an act in our own defence, and for our own advantage.

But I trust we are most of us acted by more generous Principles: let me there­fore propound such also. I say then last­ly, we are obliged in charity and good na­ture to this Duty.

And truly there is something of this in what I said but just now. Who will not think himself bound to pity, and as long as he lives pray for those, whom his own Sins have provoked God to suffer to fall into Sin? But to wave any such consi­deration: put the case, Kings were ad­vanced so far above the race of Mankind, that they could not either through human frailty, or Gods vengeance on their peoples Sins, fall themselves into any sin, or do any thing amiss; yet are they not thereby supposed impossible, or uncapable of feel­ing [Page 28] their proper miseries. And who knows not that all Crowns have their Weight, and I may say their Thorns too? Pardon that expression, who knows not? I must recall it: Indeed, none know the pressures of Crowns, but those who wear them. The infelicities of being in power (especially in the highest place of power) are greater than can be easily accounted: To make a good man great, is but to de­sire or necessitate him to be miserable for the publick Good: to say nothing of per­petual cares, waking nights, and thoughts (which the hearing of Chronicles read will not always divert) of the most poynant sense of publick Straits, national Affronts and a thousand things that will not enter into my head; this one misery is enough to make any earthly Throne eternally unea­sie, that upon the poor Prince ever was and will be charged all publick Evils: ei­ther his male-administration, or some o­ther his Personal guilt, is still cryed out of though he in the mean time be never so wise, vigilant, virtuous or innocent Thus (1 Sam. xxx 6) the Amalekites in­vade Ziklag, and carry the Women away captive, and the people instead of rescuing them talk of stoning David. These and such like miseries whoso consider, will surely [Page 29] never think he can pray too often for his King.

I might speak of Obligations from humane Laws: for humane Laws to this effect have there ever been, not only in Christian, but in Jewish and even in Heathen Coun­tries: Thus Darius, when he ordered a kind of Endowment of the Jewish Temple, required that the Priests should offer Sacri­fices of sweet Savours unto the God of Heaven, and pray for the Life of the King & his Sons. Ezr. vi. 9, 10. And it may be collected by pa­rity of Reason, from 1 Macc. xii. 11. as well as more expresly by what is above said out of Josephus, that the Jews practised accor­dingly. The primitive Christians, we have seen, did it without any Imperial Laws, and sine Monitore: But what should I speak of such Laws amongst us? In a word, and to conclude the whole Evi­dence for this Duty. If there may be any Obligation laid upon us, which is not grounded upon Scripture, Reason or humane Laws; that is, upon divine, moral or po­litical Principles of Justice, Charity and E­quity (all which, it is plain, we have in the present case); then I shall confess, there is some Obligation wanting, which might have been laid upon us, to be assiduous or [Page 30] instant in Prayer for our King. But be­cause if even new Grounds of Duties could be assigned, and humane Nature and Soci­ety should come hereafter to be regulated according to other measures than the World has hitherto known, yet these will be obligatory still: Therefore I must say after the Apostle, I exhort that Supplica­tions and Prayers, Intercessions and giving of Thanks be made for all men: For Kings, and them that are in Authority.

And when I have in a very few words press'd the Practice of what I have hither­to been demonstrating to be our Duty, I shall conclude.

First therefore, in the name of God let none of us, in what capacity soever, whe­ther private or publick persons, be want­ing to this Duty. Be we what we will, we are or would be looked upon as Christians, or Friends to humane Society. We are not such, as plead for mens living wild and savage upon the face of the Earth. If we be not such, we are then concerned and held fast in the Tyes before-mention­ed. Wherefore,

In those publick Prayers which the Church has provided for us, and most Christianly, according to the Apostolical [Page 31] Injunction and primitive Pattern put in­to our mouths, let us be cordial and sin­cere: let them not pass over with us as matter of meer Form and Custom, but honestly engage our Hearts in zealous de­sires and fixt resolutions of Loyalty. I have heard it has been objected against our Liturgy, that Prayers for the King occur therein too often, that there is in this behalf a great deal of vain Repeti­tion, a Fault taxed by our Lord in the Prayers of Heathens. It were an easie thing to vindicate our Service-Book from Tautology, even in this regard, were there now either Time or Need. In a word, there never comes two Prayers for the King in the same Office, of the same kind, or to the same purpose. And it is to be remembred, diverse kinds of Pray­ers are commanded; Supplications, Peti­tions, Intercessions and giving of Thanks are to be made for all men: For Kings, and them in Authority. Or if there were any such, yet new Affections still added to Prayers coming over again, at some di­stance, will as much make them new Prayers, as our Lords greater Earnest­ness in the Garden made the Prayer which he uttered the third time, in the same words, [Page 32] no vain Repetition. If we have any sparks of Reason in us, let us be ashamed of such pretences. We will tell the world, that what some scrupulous persons thus plead against our Liturgy, that it too frequently applies to God in behalf of the King, will ever, we hope, operate to the maintaining it. What these account its Fault, may be its and ours, and, if they will be of one piece with us, their Secu­rity. In the Name of GOD therefore let us devoutly hold to it: It will ap­prove Us and our Religion to God and Men.

And again. In private, let us imitate the Primitive Christians; of our own ac­cord, and without any Remembrancer, re­commending our King, his Person, Go­vernment, Family, and Affairs (for so we have seen they did) to the Pro­tection, and Guidance of the Almigh­ty.

If after all I have said, I thought any thing wanting to press this Exhortati­on, I could add, what me thinks would put every one of us on our knees in this behalf as frequently before God as might be desired; namely, that we can take no more effectual course than this, to [Page 33] secure the Government of our King to be according to the Will of God: A thing we pretend so much to desire! Prov. xxi. 1. The Heart of the King is in the Hand of the Lord: as the Rivers of Waters; he turneth it whithersoever he will. If we were all to have our wishes in the behalf of the Kingdoms, there could no greater Blessing befall us, than to have our King a person after Gods own Heart. There is no way in the world to make him so, like our ardent and constant Prayers to God for him. Surely a King of so many Prayers cannot miscarry.

I will therefore conclude all with a second Exhortation, and that a little more limited to this present Day. I am sure there are few or none of us, who will not this Day before we sleep, perhaps several times, be praying, or at least say, God bless the King. Now, that our Prayers may be effectual this Day, I will exhort only, that we keep our selves all in such a Temper, as to be able de­voutly and in a true Christian Temper to pray so, when we go to bed. I do not forbid eating our Meat, or drinking our Drink with Gladness and singleness [Page 34] of Heart, and wishing well to our King, his Subjects, and one another in so do­ing: But I caution all against Intem­perance and Madness. Is it Sense or Loyalty to be drunk for the King? Or, if the KING should see it, would He thank or commend or think the better of any man for it? For shame, Good Christian People, beware of such un­reasonableness, such Barbarity. At the setting of David upon the Throne, on the Holy Hill of Sion, the Holy Ghost commands, Serve the Lord with Glad­ness, and rejoyce with Trembling. Psalm II. 11. I do not press so much as that comes to; Do but rejoyce with Sobrie­ty. Rejoyce so, as not to provoke God; Rejoyce so, as that you may have Joy in the latter end. His Sa­cred Majesty, God be blessed, is far from approving, and all men say, e­ven from conniving at Debauchery. As we cannot therefore thereby please Him; so it is certain, we are thereby sure to displease God. Let us therefore study, not only this Day, but all our Days, to maintain an holy, devout, serious Temper; being always fit and resolv­ed by all Prayers and Supplication, [Page 35] with Thanksgiving, to make our Re­quest known unto God. And the Peace of God, which passeth all Understand­ing, shall keep our Hearts and Minds through Christ Jesus.

To whom, with his Bles­sed Father, and the Eternal Spirit, be all Honour, Glory, &c.

THE WAY to PEACE AND Publick Safety. As it was delivered in a SERMON in Christs Church in Cork, and elsewhere, in the heat of the late REBELLION of Argile and Monmouth.

THe body of this Epistle, for the main, consists of Exhortations and Motives to several Christian Du­ties: in the disposing of which Exhortati­ons, or assigning to each their place, the Holy Ghost seems to have proceeded wholly arbitrarily, and to have observed no other Laws or Reasons of their Order, than meer good Pleasure.

In the eighth Verse of this Chapter be­gins, as I compute, the eighth Exhortation; and it is to Ʋnity in Judgment and Af­fection (but especially in Affection) and then to the proper Product hereof Sweet­ness in Conversation. Finally be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as Brethren, be pitiful. Some of the origi­nal terms are more emphatical than our English. What we render having compas­sion one of another, if we take compassion strictly, cannot be better rendred: but then by compassion we must understand sympathising, or being of like affection one with another: as in Rom. xii. 15. Rejoycing with them that rejoyce, and weeping with them that weep. He goes on; Love as Brethren, [...] [Be ye lovers of the Brethren.] Be pitiful. [...] [of easie bowels; i. e. be tender hearted;] so the self same word is more exactly rendred. Ephes. iv. 32.

Then as to the outward Product of such inward Temper, it follows, Be courieous, and ver. 9. Not rendring Evil for Evil, or Railing for Railing: but contrariwise Bles­sing, knowing that thereunto are ye called, that ye should inherit a Blessing.

Now to back, or further enforce, the latter part of this Exhortation, he brings [Page 3] in, as a proof of what he had last said (namely, that peaceable and sweet tem­pered men should inherit a Blessing) two or three Verses out of the Old Testament (Psal. xxxiv. 13.) directing such Life and Temper as the true way to Blessedness, part of which citation is our present Text, Seek Peace and ensue it.

By which account thus given of the con­nexion of the Words, it appears, that a­mongst the several Christian Duties which concern us in order to present and future Happiness, (in order to inheriting the Blessing) the study of Peace is one of prin­cipal note. Seek Peace, say both the blessed Psalmist, and the Apostle, (and in them, both Old Testament and New) if you would inherit the Blessing promised in either.

The Words are not obscure, but yet emphatical; Seek Peace. If either Peace or the ways and methods to it should be obscure, or do not readily offer themselves, make it your business by diligent and assi­duous search to find out both one and the other. And not only seek it, but ensue or pursue it. [...]. The word properly imports the following hard after that which flies. As if he had said, Though Peace should at any time seem upon the wing, to be gone out of the Countrey, or [Page 4] out of the World, yet pursue her still. Desist not from your endeavours to re­trieve her, and if you cease not to pursue, you shall infallibly reach her here or in a better world.

To this passage of David and of St. Pe­ter, it were easie to annex divers others as express to the same purpose, out of o­ther parts of Holy Writ. Hear our Lord himself, Mat. v 9. Blessed are the Peacemakers, for day shall be called the children of God. And if you remark it, most of the foregoing Beatitudes Blessed be the poor in spirit, that is, the humble and lowly minded, Blessed be thee meek, blessed the merciful, &c. are ac­commodable to the peaceable Spirit; which has a most intimate kindred with Meekness, Mercifulness, Humility and other like Christian Graces. Again, hear the Apostle St. Paul, Rom. xii. 18. If it be possible, as much as in you lies [ [...], on your side, or as far as concerns you] live peaceably with all men. If any will not be at peace with you, let it be their fault, not yours. Yet again, Hebr. xii. 14. Fol­low peace (the same word as in the Text, pursue peace) with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. But why do I spend time in repeating what all know, and have daily in their mouths. To be [Page 5] short, the Commands are so explicit and plain, and have such Promises annexed to them, and withal so often repeated (in the Old Testament and in the New, by our Lord himself, by the Apostle of the Cir­cumcision in the Text, by the Apostle of the Gentiles in the places mentioned, and by others elsewhere) that we must need account the Endeavour of Peace to be a Duty which the Holy Ghost has laid the greatest weight upon: nor can he style himself a Christian, who employs not this way his utmost power.

The rest of my Discourse therefore shall be taken up in recommending Directions for the more successful Practice of this Duty. And these shall be proportionate to the several sorts of Peace, and as neer­ly attemperated to the present publick Circumstances and Necessities as I can.

Now in our setting forth, it will be meet to remember, that Peace may be opposed to Discontent, as well as to Strife and War. Those, who have inward Grudg­ing and Dissatisfactions, are as far from some sort of Peace, as those who are en­gaged in actual or open Quarrels. And a both regards Peace is either publick, private or secret. And the publick Peace [...]gain is either Civil or Ecclesiastical.

First then as to Publick Civil Peace. By Gods great Blessing we enjoy this here, while our Neighbors every where, on the other sides of the Water, are embroiled. For ever blessed be our good God, who has singled us out as the peculiar Objects of this his Mercy at present, yet let us study Peace also, that is, endeavour to keep it. And to this purpose I can give no better directions than these following.

1. Maintain entire and unspotted Loy­alty. I hope I shall not need much to press this Advice, especially in this place. The Commands for Subjection and Loyalty are as express in Scripture, as are these for Peace, but just now mentioned: only it would divert us too much from our pre­sent purpose to alledge them now. And I must tell you, it is the peculiar Glory of the Reformation of the Church of England, that as it was made by an happy Consent and Union of the Royal and Ecclesiastical Power of the Realm, so the Professors of it can never be taxed in any points either of resisting or descrting their Prince. In all the Wars since the Reformation, in all the Plots, old and new, not one true Church of England-man to be found all a­long; before any fell into such designs, they were either leavened with Fanaticism, [Page 7] and secretly fallen off from the Principles and Unity of our Church, or open Apostates from her; else they were never of us. This might be proved by particulars: but such proof is not for this Office, or place; only from what I have said I will infer, if there should be any person here staggering in his Loyalty, much more if a Desertor of it, though yet but secretly, that such person is neither Christian nor Protestant, whate­ver he pretends. He's fallen off from his Christianity, which commands Subjection and loyal Adhesion: And he's as much fallen off from the establisht reformed Church, which ever taught and practised both Loyalty and Non-resistance: witness our Book of Homilies and our Canons. But I will quit this head, as hoping it to be needless here long to be insisted on.

2. In order to keeping and maintaining the publick Peace, let every one be dili­gent in his own business, and keep within the bounds of his own Calling. This also is an express Command in Scripture, 1 Cor. vii. 20. Let every one abide in the same Cal­ling wherein he was called. And perhaps if any one were to define the Peace we are now speaking of, (viz. Publick Civil Peace) he could not give a better or [Page 8] plainer account of it, than by saying, It is the general Agreement or Concord of all sorts of men in doing each his own business. From which foundation it must necessarily follow, that what I advise is one of the surest methods of Peace possible. But I will quit the positive part, and on the contrary only tell you, what is a great but sad truth, that the Pragmatical Hu­mour, which is abroad, much disturbs the Peace, at least one kind of it, the Quiet of mens Minds, throughout the Country. It creates Jealousies over us, and that too most justly in the minds of our Gover­nours. What have we to do with mo­delling State Affairs, or enquiring into publick Councils, which yet is the com­mon Entertainment of every petty Club, nay almost at all other Meetings of men, except it be in Church; and 'tis well if some totally forbear it even here. Hear you, my Brethren! will not our own Cal­lings, common or Christian (of the dis­charge of both which, one day we must give an Account) find us work enough? If I am an Artificer or a Tradesman, there is no doubt of it: one thing or other in my way I may find regularly to employ me. And there's encouragement for it; Prov. xxii. 29. Seest thou a man diligent in [Page 9] his Business, he shall stand before Kings, he shall not stand before mean men. But ob­serve; it must be Diligence in his Business, in that which is own, not anothers Busi­ness. If I am a Gentleman, I have an Estate to manage, and Servants to look after, Accounts to take: besides I perhaps have some publick Trust or Business of my Countrey. Are all these faithfully or suf­ficiently attended and heeded? If they be, I have further a Soul of mine own, an excellent Being, to improve in Knowledge and in Virtue. Am I so happy in my Edu­cation, or even in my natural Endow­ments, that I can find no Books which I can read with advantage, no Studies Hi­storical, Mathematical, or even Mecha­nical, which I can entertain my self in? I may hereby accomplish my self for the Service of my Country, or of my self and Friends, be sure of my Soul and of my God: If not these, there are after due Devotion and common Business done, there are, I say, Countrey Divertisements which may innocently imploy some hours: Any thing rather than Sin, rather than do a publick Mischief, that is, be acting out of my Cal­ling. Again, if I am a Minister, have I not work enough? Or indeed, when I have well bethought my self, have I any [Page 10] leisure? Alass! indeed, my work is, as my reward, if faithful; or as my punish­ment, if otherwise, endless. To conclude this Point: If we have all of us, of what state or degree soever, full employment in the way God has put us; let us not embroil our selves and the World by med­ling with what belongs not to us, or in none of our business.

It may be thought I have forgotten here that there are not a few Men (at least Abroad, or up and down in the Countrey) who have no Calling at all, who wear good Cloaths, go Gent (as some speak) ride good Horses, and are otherwise accoutred; Now how will this Direction comprehend or suit them? Truly not at all: These hear me not, I presume, nor have I any thing to do with such Outlyers. But I conceive the Laws, which were designed for our publick Peace take notice of these People, and it is the duty of Magistrates and Persons in publick Trusts to take notice of them, and secure them, as being matter prepared and ready dryed for publick Flames and Combusti­ons. And in saying thus much I am still but upon the same Point. I presume this is part of the Magistrates Duty and Cal­ling, whom certainly it especially con­cerns, [Page 11] as they tender the publick Peace, to mind, attend, and be diligent in the business of their Calling: And perhaps this part may be as seasonable at present as any.

3. As a farther means of maintaining Peace, Let us avoid the Company, at least the Familiarity, of men of Turbulent Spirits. This indeed is but prudence, in regard of our own private safety: For we have late Instances enough before us, what fatal Ends the Conversation and Society of unquiet designing Achitophels has brought many (perhaps formerly) Vertuous Persons to. But I do not now advise this caution in that regard, (though I say in that regard it is adviseable, and Counsel that ought to be taken): But as a means to preserve the publick Peace amongst us. For let but Pragmatical or Turbulent Agitators be avoided, let them stand alone, and see the World dare not trust them, or will have nothing to do with them, and they will either be discouraged or disabled from do­ing Mischief. They can do no hurt, as long as they are alone. And I pray you Bre­thren, esteem this a part of your Duty, as well as Interest: For hear the Apostle, 2 Thess. iii. 6. Now we command you, Bre­thren, in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, [Page 12] (observe both his Earnestness and Sweet­ness, Brethren, saith he, In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we Command you) that ye withdraw your selves from every Bro­ther that walketh disorderly, and not after the Tradition which ye received of us: Now can any single act be more disorderly, that is, as the Apostle himself explains his own Term, more contrary to the Tradition or Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles; than for men to be undermining or unhinging Governments; designing against, and re­sisting Kings, engaging themselves and o­thers in Rebellious Wars. Did Christ, did the Apostles any where such things? Or did they teach, advise, or encourage any such practises, or not rather the direct contraries? Subjection, Obedience, Peace­ableness, Giving Caesar his due, as well as God his; was both their Doctrine and Practice. Give me leave to use a plain Si­militude to enforce this Point. Put the case it were now a very infectious conta­gious time (as, God be blessed, it is not here) let me ask you, if any one of you knew, such or such a particular person to be tainted with the Plague, or to have it upon him, would you lye in his Bosom, would you hang upon his Mouth, would you suffer him to breath on you, or would [Page 13] you suck in his Breath impregnated with the Plague-Venome? Or rather, would you not desire he might be sent away to a Pest-house, and kept from spreading the Contagion? At least you would keep aloof from him your selves. My Brethren, this is the very case. These little Caballing Politicians of the Age, have a most pesti­lent Infection about them, a seditious, un­quiet, pragmatical Spirit, and 'tis very catching. They are indeed the common Plague of the three Nations; wherefore avoid them: Let them dwell alone, till Shame and Penitence shall make them wholsome, and sit for humane Society.

4. If the former Direction cannot be perfectly practised by any, but such Ser­pents will slipperily insinuate themselves into your Company; be sure then, as soon as you know them, to discover both them, and whatever you know of their Projects & Councils, & that immediately. In the name of God let nothing of this kind sleep with you. Let not that false opinion of I know not what vain honour, which has made some men, to their costs, shy of impeaching others, betray you to conceal what may operate to your own and the publick Ruine. Cer­tainly, my King, my Countrey, the Church, or (if these be less dear to any) [Page 14] my Family and my self, ought to be loved first, and before any particular Friend or Associate. Consult therefore chiefly the welfare of these; And I pray you re­member, concealing Treason is Treason, not only by the Laws of England, but by the Old Judicial Law amongst the Jews, which derived from God himself. According to this Divine Law, or [the Mishpat Ham­meluchah] the Statutes of the Kingdom, a Book written by Samuel at the command of God, and said to be laid up before the Lord, 1 Sam. x. 25. Saul pronounces them guilty of High-Treason, who knew when David fled and did not shew it, 1 Sam. xxii. 17. And his Sentence had undoubted­ly been just, had either David or the Priests been guilty of the matter of Fact, charged respectively on them: Even the principles of common reason and justice, the grounds of all good Laws, will conclude as much. Wherefore we ought to look upon it as a matter against good Conscience, as well as against Prudence and Common Law, to conceal such treasonable discourses or de­signs as come to our knowledge.

5. Spread not those Idle Stories or Suspi­cions which go up and down of publick Dangers. If you can in the beginning trace them to their head, to any true or proba­ble [Page 15] Original, so as to fix them on their malicious Authors, do so; and as before said, discover them. Then in all likely­hood; you have put an end both to the Lye and its Mischief: You have crusht the Cockatrice in its Egg. Otherwise, know they are devised by cunning and ill-affe­cted Men, and put into Fools Mouths to report, that the Devisers may take their advantages of those reports, either by af­fixing their own Malice on innocent Men, or by gaining some plausible pretence for the Spleen they would wreak; so that they may be able, when time comes, with some colour, to call Spite and Wrong by the names of Justice or Self-Defence. In Levit. xix. 16. we have a peculiar pre­cept, which explains the ninth Com­mandment fitly to our present purpose. Thou shalt not go up and down as a Talebearer amongst thy People, nor shalt thou stand against the Blood of thy Neighbour. To spread Reports and Tales is one of the most mischievous kinds of bearing false witness. And there are publick Tale­bearers as well as private ones. Truely there are some that seem to make it, not so much a Trade as the Business of their Lives: they catch up all the Ru­mours that are going, and have their [Page 16] Customers both to bring them in, and to vent them too. These people are ill mem­bers both of Church and State. Particu­larly, I cannot but take notice of a Story very fresh and brisk in the Country; That the English are combining in a design to rise and cut all the Throats of the Irish: And on the other side, many of the English are told, and believe, as much of the Irish to­wards them. What are these but Devices of wicked men, or of the Devil by them, to put us upon the imbruing our hands mutually in one anothers Bloud. On nei­ther side, in the present circumstances of both, is the thing either probable, or so much as possible. As to the English, was there ever yet such a thing heard of, upon the face of the Earth, as a Massa­cre by Protestants? Those men who know our Religion, know the Principles of our Religion will not suffer it. Nay further, it is not possible at present, as were easie to shew. 'Tis well if we are able to defend our selves. Is it not a pleasant thing to see in a Parish between three or four hundred people ly by night out of their Houses, for fear of two or three Families, in which there are not Seven persons able to bear Arms? For shame let not people suffer themselves to be thus abused. Then [Page 17] as to the other side, touching the rumour­ed danger of a Massacre upon the English by the Irish. Is not this, at present, a plain, abominable Device to put us toge­ther by the Ears? set on foot by them who desire an advantage against us, to the end that if by these affrightments they can tempt any weak persons of us to any irre­gular actions, they may more justly seek occasion of Revenge by their own hands, or otherwise accuse and misrepresent us. I confess, this is out of my Province a lit­tle; but I could not forbear it. For Gods sake, and our Countreys sake, and our own sake, let us all joyn together to bring to light the Authors of these Reports; but however let us not suffer our selves to be so far ridden by them, as to be their Ju­ments, or Beasts of burden, to carry such forged Wares up and down the Countrey.

Sixthly, as another Preservative of pub­lick Peace, I take it to be good Advice, that we pass not bad Interpretations on the Acts of the Government: a fault that more people are guilty of, then I am wil­ling so much as to characterize. I pray you remember, Charity ever requires us to think the best, 1 Cor. xiii. 5, 6, 7. Charity thinketh no evil, rejoyceth not in iniquity, (which as appears by the opposites, may be inter­preted [Page 18] maketh not advantage of falshoods) but rejoyceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things (does not readily give men up for desperate and in­corrigible) endureth all things, or grows not impatient upon every matter of suspi­cion, that offers it self. Some haply will say, this Text treats only touching the Du­ties of private Charity towards one ano­ther. Be it so: but do I owe all these Offices of Charity to each private man, and not to the most considerable body of men which I can pick out in the King­doms, to Magistrates and Governours? To deal more roundly; Must I have Cha­rity for every particular man, yea even for Enemies, and none for my King and his Council? To be short then, if we love the publick Peace, let us neither make ill constructions our selves of publick Acti­ons, nor silently admit them, when we hear them made by others. Let us at least profess our Charity, and that we hope better, than some interpret, or others fear.

Lastly, and to conclude all the advice on this Head, for the possessing our own and one anothers minds with Quiet; Let tis remember, what I have formerly prest, God rules over all. His hand is in all. And let us be content he should govern. Here­with [Page 19] let us still any risings in our minds. Herewith let us silence others. 'Tis a wholesome stop to put to the jealous Sur­mises and Discourses of those who delight in ill Presages, God governs all, God is Judge himself. In the mean while, let us endeavour to mold our Minds into a perfect Submission to the Divine Dispo­sal, still trusting God, and hoping the best; for God be blessed, I say again, we see yet no other reason. And thus far as to Methods for preserving the Publick Ci­vil Peace.

It may here perhaps be expected that I say something as to the Publick Peace of the Church: God be blessed, also in this kind, we are much quieter here, than are others in other places. My meaning is, those, who are not of us, at least hereabouts, are not yet so insolent as to disturb us. How­ever to speak out in this case. I know but one effectual way to restore more perfect Peace to our Church here, or to preserve what we have at present, and 'tis this; That those who call themselves Protestants would unite in Religion or publick Worship, and be all of one piece; I mean, that the several sorts of Dissenters would come in to the publick establisht Church: for mine own part, I am amazed to see, that any [Page 20] of them who have but a fair pretence to Sobriety, should in our present circum­stances stand out. As to the Enthusiastical part of them, there can be no Action of theirs which a man ought to wonder at: for be it never so wild, it is still agreeable to the Measures they have taken. But that Men should allow our Doctrine to be sound, our Worship so far forth pure, that they can with good Conscience joyn therein, our Sacraments valid, so as that they do and must derive their being Members of Christs visible Church from hence, that they or their Principals were baptized in our Church, and in a word, our Church to have reformed from all gross Corruption, and yet that they should think themselves bound in Conscience to separate from us, to set up themselves against us, (Church against Church, Altar against Altar) to the weakening both of themselves and us; and all this in a time when none cry out more than themselves of publick Dangers for want of Unity: this, I must again pro­fess, makes me stand amazed. In such exigences will they allow nothing to be sa­crificed to publick Peace? Nothing to publick Safety? They must needs see by their own Obstinacy they have put it out of our hands to help them▪ and will they [Page 21] notwithstanding still continue their Sepa­ration? I have at other times put the Question, whom, or what Church will they join with, if they still remain separate from us? Will they ever be Straglers, unfix'd, without Form, Government, or any man­ner of Union and Coalition? In the name of God, if nothing else, let what they are still crying out of the publick Dangers (if they believe themselves that there are such) let, I say, their Sense of the publick Dan­ger drive them to take refuge in the Arms of their forsaken Mother, which are ever open to receive them. I will add no more. This is the only mean of any tolerable Ec­clesiastical Peace, which I can think of a­mongst us here. And the good God unite our hearts to fear him, and love one another, and then this Counsel will soon take ef­fect.

I am now to proceed to private Peace, and the methods probable to it. By pri­vate Peace I mean, Peace in the Neighbour­hood, and Peace in the Family. This cer­tainly ought to be pursued and sought by all; to be restored if violated, and main­tained if on foot or in present being. I will not say that such private Discords are always or ordinarily the grounds of pub­lick Broils: but I may say most truly they [Page 22] prepare men for them. When men are discontent at home, or in the Neighbour hood, they are ready for any turbulent and desperate Imployment, which may capacitate them to revenge themselves, or serve to divert their uneasie Condition. If there be at any time publick Disturban­ces arising, any person setting up new Ti­tles, Interests or Designs, then every one that is in debt, every one that is discon­tent, every one that is in distress gathers themselves unto such or such a Pretender, and he becomes a Captain over them. 1. Sam. xxii. 2. It was so then, and this I verily believe at present arms more Rebels of of the common sort, than any thing else: Men exhaust their Estates, neglect their Callings, run a gadding after I know not what or whom, by such means become en­gaged in private Quarrels, or in wants and straits, and then War is an admirable Re­fuge for them. And to palliate all, 'tis the easiest thing in the world to play the Hypocrite, and pretend the Cause of God and Religion, when all that is at bottom is only Rapine or Revenge. Wherefore it being not at all out of the way to publick Peace, to provide for keeping the private, admit a few words thereof.

And the first means hereto, is for men [Page 23] to be fully and honestly imployed. I [...] would be much for the Happiness and Quiet of eve­ry Neighbourhood and Family, if as eve­ry one has, or may find, a Calling (though some of more liberal Imployments than o­thers) so every one would as before ad­vised, be assiduous and diligent th [...]in. Ne nil ageretur amavit, sometimes & in some kind comes to pass. One sort of people when they have nothing to do fall in love; but others fall a quarrelling with their Neighbours, become Tatlers, Bu [...]ib [...]dies; or it may be fall into little Clubs, grow de­bauch'd, frequently tipple or somewhat like it, and then their tongues walk throughout the Earth; by which courses they breed more Quarrels and Mischief then can ea­sily be thought of. Plenty, Ease, Wan­tonness and Idleness have produced this Humour; Industry, Business, Labour and Sobriety would soon cure it, and lay the foundations of private Peace.

Secondly, Learn and resolve on so much Christianity as to contemn and pardon [...] Offences: I am sure our Lord commands this or more. Matth. v. 39. Whosoever sh [...]ll smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him th [...] other also: that is, be so far from revenging a smal wrong, such as a single Box of the Ear, as rather by thy Patience, to expose [Page 24] thy self to a second, accordingly as he does, who turns his cheek to receive another. And I pray you consider the reasonableness of not meditating Revenge, or exacting punctual Satisfaction in all such smal inju­ries or affronts. Is the Vindication of thy self, or gaining Right in so trivial points worth the inquietude of mind, the distur­bance and turmoil it costs? most times al­so it requires more than meerly work of Thought to right our selves; so that I may truly say, the Satisfaction, if justly estimated, will not quit a mans pains to get it.

Thirdly, If you would have your Fa­milies and Neighbourhood in Peace, be not curiously inquisitive into others actions and affairs: for they, who are so, cre­ate to themselves and Neighbours per­petual Concernments, unnecessary Busi­ness, and in the end Differences and Dis­quiet: They who will be knowing what every one does or says, shall never be at peace either in themselves or with their Neighbours. This inquisitive Humour is a sore and frequent evil, so frequent that in most Cities or populous Towns there are several Houses, whither a man may go and be informed better of the little affairs of his own Family, Children and [Page 25] Servants, than he himself is able to re­port. An accursed Quality this, and which generally proceeds from a very ill Nature, and therefore it is no wonder if it be of so ill a Tendency, as I have affirm'd it: but should it spring only from imper­tinent Curiosity, it ought to be curbed by us in our selves and others. Eccles. vii. 21. Take no heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy Servant curse thee: that is, as the phrase signifies with the He­brews, speak slightingly, dishonourably or reproachfully of thee. For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thy self hast cursed others. These little Offences are ordinary, and of common course; nor canst thou but be sensible that thou hast many a time done as much as this comes to by others, that are as much thy bet­ters, as thou art superiour to thy Ser­vants. And if it be not prudence, accor­ding to the Wisemans Judgment, to take heed of such matters, then much more neither will it be virtuous to search out iniquities, yea to ac­complish Ps. lxiv. 6. a diligent search after other mens manners, who are to stand or fall to their own Masters. We are to ac­count, it is not likely we should be able to reform all that is amiss in the world: [Page 26] we shall surely disquiet our selves, and exas­perate others against us, by our prying into things that do not concern us. Te­cum habita—Examine and reform thy self, and it will both bring and main­tain thee peace.

Fourthly, Let me add, as another mean to private Peace, what is much akin to the former Advice, Listen not to Tale­bearers. There is scarce any Friendship so strong, which a Generation of Tat­lers will not sever. Prov. xvi. 28. A Whis­perer separateth chief Friends; and the for­mer part of the verse tells us how he does it, namely, by sowing strife. It is no won­der therefore if in Neighbourhoods, where the ties of mutual Love are, God knows, too too weak, (where it is well if one Fa­mily have not a Jealousy over another) one Tatling person makes more Feuds than an hundred wise or good men can compose. Let such persons therefore be banished out of that House, where it is desired Peace should dwell: at least, give them not the encouragement to hear their Stories; for that both begets and fosters them. This very one Advice constantly practised would go very far to quiet ma­ny places: For where there is no Wood the Fire goeth out, so where there is no Tale­bearer [Page 27] the strife ceaseth, (Prov. xxvi. 20.) And if Strife cease, Peace therefore must needs ensue.

Lastly, if at any time Displeasure or ground of Discord be conceived by thee against any Friend or Neighbour, esteem the Wisemans Counsel in such case both Christian and Prudent. (Prov. xxv. 9.) Debate thy Cause with thy Neighbour thy self, and discover not a secret to another. Perhaps the matter of fact, which thou hast heard of thy Neighbour, or of thy Friend, is not true: This friendly Conference will bring all to light, and prevent misapprehension. If it be true, perhaps it was a slip, the effect of some passion or disorder; and the honest man will be sorry for it, and give thee satisfaction: If so, then thou hast gain­ed thy Brother: instead of an Enemy thou hast him for ever a firmer Friend. This is it which the Son of Sirach, following Solomons steps, most excellently adviseth. (Ecclesiasticus xix. 13, 14, 15.) Admonish a Friend, it may be he hath not done it: and if he have done it, that he do it no more. Ad­monish thy Friend, it may be he hath not said it: and if he have, that he speak it not [...]gain. Admonish a Friend, for many times it is a Slander, and believe not every Tale. If this Advice were more practised, in fit and [Page 28] meet seasons, in convenient place and o­ther due circumstances, many fallings out amongst Friends and Neighbours would need no other Umpire to end them, but the poor penitent Offender himself. And thus far as to what I stiled private Peace. and the means thereto.

The third sort of Peace yet remains, and it is of great consequence; [...] Peace, the Peace of a mans own Breast. A Jewel worth purchasing at any rate [...] and by the following means it may sure [...] be obtained.

First, Allow thy self in [...] known [...] nor so much as in any practice wh [...] thou hast reason to suspect for sinful: [...] (Rom. xiv. 23.) Whatsoever is not of [...] is Si [...]; that is, whatsoever at any tim [...] thou doest, which thou art not assured [...] Conscience thou mayest lawfully do [...] at least to thee a sin. Immediately there­fore, if thou intendest to have a [...] Mind, break off every sinful or suspicion practice, to which thou hast addicted [...] self.

Secondly. With Sorrow of He [...]r [...] [...]o what is past, cast thy self on Gods [...] Mercy [...] Pard [...]n through the Sacrifice [...] Christ Je [...]s on his Cross. Fly for [...] to this H [...]pe set before us; Hebr. vi. [...]. [Page 29] These things, saith St. John, I write to you that you sin not; But if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous, and he is the Propitia­tion for our Sins. 1 Joh. II. 1, 2. Our first care should be not to sin: but if (e­ven after our former Repentance) we are again overtaken with sin, and such which wounds the Conscience, the next care must be to betake our selves to our Propi­tiation: and it is his Promise, In me ye shall have Peace. Joh. xvi. 33.

Thirdly. Whosoever thou art, that desirest Peace of Conscience, suffer not a­ny scruple long to lie upon thee: If thou canst not by Prayer and private Thought, or some like way remove it thy self, im­mediately crave Help: Wounds which go long unbound up, are most difficult to heal, and sometimes, by continued neglect, grow incurable. Whereas there­fore Christ has appointed and provided Ministers of Peace and Reconciliation, make use of their private Ministry as well as their publick.

Lastly. Of all Evils, beware of such which may any wise involve thee in Bloud­guiltine [...]s. I have heard it reported of the Garments of some Murderers, that the [Page 30] Spots of the Bloud they spilt could never be washt out of them: and I have been shewed a Sword, out of which, as has been affirm'd to me, the Skill and Pains of all the Sword-Dressers could never work the Stain of Bloud. Be those things how they shall, it is most sure the Guilt of Bloud sticks deep on every Conscience where it once fixeth. It is very hardly purged or got off from mens Minds, who have any Consciences. Wherefore it is no less necessary even to Peace in your selves, than to Peace in the Kingdom, that you listen not to the Counsels or Se­ductions of men, who are so ready for Wars. Account them to be what they are, the Plague and Reproach of Christi­an Nations, to be avoided and abhorred by all good men. But I must conclude, and I will trust we have none of this kind of men amongst us: If you find any of them, remember the course before pre­scribed, neither to be of their Councils, nor to keep what you know unconcealed.

I have thus endeavoured faithfully to set before you the way to Peace; to Peace in the Kingdom, and in the Church; to Peace in the Neighbourhood, and in the Family: and finally to Peace with God [Page 31] in our own Consciences. The God of Peace make us all careful in the Practice of what has been said, and crown us all with the Blessing of such Peace.

To him be all Honour and Glory now and for ever. Amen.

Religion and Loyalty INSEPARABLE; The Nature of both opened, and their Connexion proved.
In a SERMON preached at Bandon in the County of Cork, in the Heat of Monmouths Rebellion, and afterwards elsewhere.

WE find this Epistle to be entitled The Epistle general of St. Peter; not inscribed as are St. Pauls, To the Romans, To the Corinthians, To the Galathians, or the like; but General, [Page 2] that is, to all Christian People, chiefly indeed designed to the dispersed Christian Jews, to the Strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, (cap. I. 1.) but not so particularly to them, as to exclude the Gentile Christi­ans, amongst whom they lived, and whi­ther they were scattered. (For such ear­ly was the Condition of the Christian Church, that its Members really were, and so most naturally might be stiled, [...] scattered Strangers or Pilgrims of the Dispersion). From which Inscription it follows that the Duties here prescribed and pressed must be of general concernment and obligation to all Christian Ages, Nations, Sexes and Conditions whatsoever.

The Epi [...]le it self consists, as I have lately on another occasion noted unto you, of sundry Exhortations to particular Chri­stian Duties, and of Enforcements or Per­suasives to them.

The Text is part of the Amplification of the seventh Duty herein pressed, name­ly, of Subjection and Obedience to the Powers God has set over us. Ver. 13. Sub­mit your selves to every Ordinance of Man for the Lords sake, in which passage one expression must be warily understood, for [Page 3] Government it self is from God: But it is the form, manner, or particular frame of Government in every Kingdom or Nati­on, which he calls [...], a Crea­ture of Mans, an Human Constitution. Now, saith he, submit to every of these for the Lords sake; Whether it be to the King as Supream. This indeed was the first Form of Government in the World: nor can, as far as I see, any other Form of Government be proved to be of Gods appointment (mero motu) of his own ac­cord and free pleasure, as we speak, ever from the beginning. (For Moses was King in Jeshurun, when the Heads of the People and Tribes of Israel were gathered to­gether. Deut. xxxiii. 5. And the intro­ducing the seventy Elders, and so redu­cing the Form of the Government of Is­rael into a kind of Republick, was upon the importunity and some degree of im­patience of Moses, Numb. xi. 11, 12, &c. at which God seems there not to be well pleased. As neither indeed was he when the same sickle people afterwards acqui­esced not even in that Government by their Elders. But to return.) This same Exhortation he amplifies and presses, ver. 14, 15. and so on till in ver. 17. he con­cludes its general part in these words, [Page 4] Fear God, honour the King.

Wherein are two Duties manifestly in­joyned us, one to God, Fear God. The other to the King, Honour the King.

Of each of these we will treat, first singly, or apart; then of the Connexion of both, which I affirm to be so far constant (at least of the one side) and so indisso­luble, that whosoever does fear God will ho­nour the King.

I begin with the first of these (the Fear of God) not only because it stands first in my Text, but also because it is in order of Nature the truest and only sure foun­dation of the other. All Duties towards men, when sincerely payed, must have their foundation in our Dutifulness towards God. When our Lord had occasion to touch on the true and natural Order of Christian Duties, he tells us this is the first and great Commandment (Matth. xxii. 37, 38.) that we love the Lord our God with all our Heart, with all our Mind, with all our Soul, and with all our Strength. And the second is, That we love our Neighbour as our selves; teaching us hereby, that we can never love our Neighbour as we should do, except first we most entirely love God. The loving God with all our hearts can only sweeten and influence our Souls [Page 5] into an universal Charity. And propor­tionably in the present case, the Fear of God can alone implant in our hearts uni­versal and invariable Loyalty. And there­fore I must confess I cannot see, how vici­ous men can be true Loyalists. Natural Love, Education, Interest, Fear, and other like causes may beget and nourish a short temporary and partial Allegiance. The vilest men may be subject for Wrath, but good men only will be subject, as the Ho­ly Ghost directs, for Conscience sake. And such Loyalty will be impartial, indefecti­ble, and eternally cordial. Briefly there­fore in the first place of the Fear of God. Now by the Fear of God we are to under­stand, such a constant Sense or Aw of God, of his Sovereign Dominion, Power, Omnisci­ence and Justice, as restrains us from Sin, and quickens us to Duty. The Fear of God therefore [first] suppos [...]s most deeply root­ed in our hearts a real Belief of his Being, and a sober Knowledge of his Nature. He who doubts whether there be a God, or is either ignorant or dubious of the truth of his infinite Perfections, can never have in his heart a true Fear of him. For as that Fear presupposes, I say, such Under­standing and Belief, so [secondly] it con­sists in (at least most proximately and im­mediately [Page 6] flows from or depends upon) a constant (actual or virtual) Attention to what we thus understand and believe of him. The thoughts of him, and of these his Perfections are generally, ever and a­non recurring, and by that means habitu­ally fixed in the mind. The Thoughts I mean,

1. Of his Sovereign Dominion and Autho­rity over all. He alone is King of Nati­ons (Jerem. x. 7.) supream and most ab­solute over all Peoples, and Kingdoms, and Languages; and over each individual Man. And therefore who shall not fear be­fore thee, O thou King of Nations, for to thee it doth appertain; forasmuch as amongst all the wise men of the Nations, and in all their Kingdoms, there is none like unto thee.

2. Together herewith do the thoughts of his Omniscience (or actually knowing all things) possess the heart; for begetting in it that Temper which we call the Fear of God, Psalm cxxxix. 2, 3, 4, 6. Thou knowest my down-sitting and mine up-rising, thou understandest my thoughts afar off; thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art neer unto all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. Such Knowledge is too wonderful for me, it is high, I cannot attain [Page 7] unto it. In other words, it is not possible for any of us so intimately to know our our selves, as God knows us. I cannot tell what I shall think, or what I shall not think to morrow, perhaps not an hour hence. But God knoweth my thoughts while they are yet afar off. He by one simple in­comprehensible act sees all things, persons and actions, past, present and to come. And whereas the Heart of man is deceitful and desperately wicked, so that a man him­self knows not all the Wickedness of his own heart; The Lord searcheth the Hearts, and tryeth the Reins of the Children of Men, all their Counsels and Contrivances, all their hidden acts of Malice or Concu­piscence are open and bare to him. And therefore who can but fear before him? Especially considering, what also is ano­ther ingredient or ground to the Fear of God.

3. That this same Omniscient God is also most just and holy. Most holy, so as that he can no wise approve or allow Sin. Habbak I. 13. Thou art of purer Eyes than to behold Evil, and canst not look on Ini­quity: that is, God most perfectly abhors it. And therefore he will most certainly punish it, where persisted in, or not re­pented of. Rom. II. 6, 8, 9. He will render [Page 8] to every man according to his deed, to them that are contentious and do not obey the Truth, but obey Ʋnrighteousness, Indignation and Wrath, Tribulation and Anguish upon every Soul of man that doeth evil. Yea, so severe is Gods hatred of Sin, that sometimes when upon mens Repentance, he forgives their sin as to the eternal punishments, he yet in his Wisdom and Justice sees fit to inflict upon them here some tempora­ry punishments. Psalm xcix. 8. Thou an­swerest them, O Lord our God, thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their Inventions: which whoso considers must certainly fear before this holy God.

Add hereto, lastly, the attending to, or consideration of his infinite Might & Power. As he hath resolved and will bring every work into Judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil, (Ec­cles. vii. last.) so is he able to effect it. No Malefactors can possibly fly from, or escape this Judge: he has Emissaries e­nough (millions of Angels good and bad) to fetch all in. And all shall appear before the Judgement-seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his body, ac­cording to that he hath done, 2 Cor. v. 10.

Let us now put all these together: Ad­mit [Page 9] a man believes and actually thinks, there is a great and glorious Majesty, un­seen indeed, but seeing all, who is Lord of Heaven and Earth, and all in them; this God is most holy and most just, both resolved and able to bring all things into Judgment, even to the very imaginations of the thought of mens hearts; must not there needs amount hence a most pro­found Aw and Dread of this great God? And must not this Fear both restrain such in whose Breasts it is conceived from wicked practices, and excite and awaken them to all well-doing? Thus then we have most plainly heard what the Fear of God is, and together how it is begotten in the heart, what roots or foundation it has.

Now for the second Duty Honour the King.

Honour imports or signifies an inward Esteem and outward Respect paid to any, by reason of the Excellency we apprehend in them. Thus in the beginning of this verse, Honour all men: For some Excellency there is in all men, that is, in every man, more than in any other Creatures we know. The Image of God is impress'd upon the poorest, which whoso observes, or ac­knowledges, must needs pay an Esteem [Page 10] and Respect, that is, an Honour thereto. But in the present case, more signally, Kings are Gods Image, doubly or trebiy. First, as Men by Creation; Then as Chri­stians by Regeneration; And further, by by their Office, as Gods Vicegerents. They represent him, and are as in the place of God within their Dominions and Coun­tries; They are the Ordinance of God, Rom. xiii. 2. the Ministers, or immediate Agents, of God ver. 4. and therefore fre­quently in Scripture called Gods; twice even in one Psalm lxxxii. 1, and 6. Now because greater Excellency cannot be in any than in God; therefore to no other be­longs greater or equal Honour. And be­cause Kings on Earth are Gods Vicege­rents, therefore to none on Earth is grea­ter Honour due than unto Kings: so much reason for this Duty do the very terms in which it is expressed most evidently and intimately import. But it is requisite we take a more distinct view of the particu­lars, which this comprehensive general in the Text doth involve. We will therefore expresly put the Question, What are the great Branches of that Honor, which by the Christian Law Subjects ow to their Prince?

In answer whereto I conceive the sum of all may be reduced to the save following heads.

1. We owe to our King by the Law of Christ the Honour of Obedience. And for proof hereof, because some people will admit nothing to be our Duty, which is not plainly made so by one of the Ten Commandments, I could be content at present to go no further than the Fifth Commandment; Honour thy Father and Mother; Civil as well as Natural. Thy King as well as Parents. That Father and Mother ought to be interpreted here with this Latitude, I prove from hence, that there is no other of the Ten Com­mandments, which will take in the Sixth of these Seven Precepts which the Jewish Doctors call the Precepts of the Sons of Noah, and tell us they were in the world as the great Rule of Life or Manners long before Moses's Law. That Precept is [...] of Judgments or Obedience to the Civil Magistrate, and must, I say, be included in the Fifth Commandment, or else (which is not credible) is totally omit­ted and reducible to none. Whence would follow that the Law written by Gods own Finger were more imperfect, than the Traditionary one, which was in the world before it: which, I presume, all whom I have to deal with abhorr to think. Then, that the Honour here required will extend to [Page 12] Obedience, there can be no clearer proof, than the most exemplary instance of the Rechabites keeping this Commandment, in observing their Father Rechabs Injunctions, so much celebrated by God himself, Jer. xxxv. so that in short, they who contend for withdrawing Obedience to Kings out of the List of Christian Duties, as far as in them lies, take away a main branch of one of the Ten Commandments. But if we please to look into the New Testa­ment, and will take satisfaction thence of our Christian Duty (as I think is most pro­per) we need not go so far about. Hear what Doctrine St. Paul requires Titus, whom he ordained Bishop of Crete, to preach to his Flock, Tit. II. last, and III. 1. These things, saith he, speak, and exhort with all Authority. Let no man despise thee. Put them in mind to be subject to Principalities and Powers; and what he means by that Subjection, immediately he expresses in the next word, To obey, [...], which our Translators indeed have rendred; To obey Magistrates. And if we understand the words as we ought, and as parallel pla­ces enforce, of submitting our selves or being obedient to the King as Supream, and Governours or Magistrates as sent by him, (1 Pet. II. 13, 14.) there is no danger in [Page 13] the Translation. But if any of us should be infected with the Humour of some men, that there is a sort of Magistrates which are coordinate, or all taken together supe­riour, to the King, and that 'tis these Ma­gistrates only which we owe Obedience to, and another kind of Honour may serve the King; then it is fit we be admonsht, that the word Magistrates is not in the Original, nor indeed in any Translation, that I can find, before those of Calvin & Geneva. And whether put in only, that the Text might more expresly favour the popular Govern­ment here may be worth consideration. This only I avow, the Text naturally runs thus, Put them Quomodo hic se habeat Ma­gni Erasmi ver­sio, mihi com­pertum non est: nec enim ed manum est, ut consulam. Certe quod Erasmus in Anno­tatis suis, aliique (eum forsan secuti) asseruerint [...] proprie esse parere Magistratibus, id gratis dictum est. Nam cum [...] sit ad Literam [...] Principium, Principatum, Imperium sone [...], non Magistratus, reddendum potius foret parere imperie. vel principatui. At hoc prius positum erat, & quam proxime; viz. [...]. Cujus rei memor forte Interpres vulgatus [...] redd [...]dit dicto obedi­re; nihilo sane felicius. Constat enim ex usu Novi Test. [...] significare simpliciter parere, obedire. Videatur Actorum. cap. v. 29, 32. & xxvii. 21. in mind to be subject to Prin­cipalities and Powers, and to obey. There is no other Ob­ject [Page 14] specified of Obedience, but that be­fore named of Subjection. And if we will have any critical difference betwixt the two Verbs, To be subject and To obey, the first, [...], signifies more strictly, Be­ing subject out of necessity and for Wrath, (as our Apostle elsewhere expresses it;) and this word [...], To obey volunta­rily and out of choice, for Conscience sake. It is Promptè, libenter & ex animo obedire, says Cornel à Lapide. And thus taken, as thus it ought to be taken, there cannot be a Text more express for any Christi­an Duty than this is for Obedience to Kings.

But some of you haply have by this time cast your Eyes on the last words of the Verse, it is said, not only Put them in mind to be subject, and obey, but to be ready to every good work. And this limits our Obedience.

Yes, and God forbid but all Obedi­ence to Man should be constantly charg­ed with this Reserve or Condition, its con­sistency with our Obedience to God; Chil­dren obey your Parents in the Lord, (Ephes. vi. 1.) not in things by God forbidden: and so this Text is express, you see, as to our Obedience to the King, that we obey and be ready in every good work. Yet [Page 15] we must know, Actions in themselves but indifferent become good works, when done in Obedience to lawful Authority, such as I hope none of us doubt His Majesties to be. As for instance; It is an indifferent action (generally taken) whether I go a­broad, or follow my business at home. But if the King commands me abroad to serve him, it is now a good work, and my Duty, to go abroad and serve him. And so in other like cases.

But will some say; What if the King should command us any thing that is un­lawful? What then must our Obedience be? I answer.

1. The King cannot be conceived to command us (that is, any men in our cir­cumstances and conditions) any thing but what he commands according to Law; that is, he can be conceived to command us nothing but what the Law commands: And I must stand to it, our Laws are good; nay they are most excellent: at least, I could never find an ill one a­mongst those now in force. This Suppo­sition therefore is you see unreasonable, and not to be put.

But you will say; What if an ill Law should be made, and our Obedience to it required. These things are not in them­selves impossiible.

I answer; Under our Constitution, and as the Frame of our Government stands, if they be not impossible, yet, God be bles­sed, they are most highly improbable, and most unlikely. But,

2. (And which for ever answers all) There are few of us but have heard there is a double Obedience which may be paid to Governours: Active or Passive. Where the thing commanded is lawful to be done, we ought to do it: we owe active Obedi­ence, Eccles. viii. 2. I counsel thee to keep the Kings Commandment, and that in regard of the Oath of God. Thy Allegiance binds thee to it. But in case the thing com­manded be unlawful; that is, against a­ny plain Command of God, or that thou without Fraud or Dissimulation appre­hendest and believest it to be so, there is then passive Obedience that thou art to pay: that is, thou must meekly and pa­tiently submit thy self to suffer, whatever Penalty the Lawgiver thinks fit to inflict for the breach of his Law. We may petition and supplicate for Forbearance and Mercy; but in case we cannot obtain it, we may not resist. For whosoever re­sisteth the Power, resisteth the Ordinance of God, and they that resist shall receive to them­selves Damnation. Rom. xiii. 2. This is [Page 17] the Doctrine of St. Paul, and it ever has been the Doctrine of our Church, [See the Book of Homilies.] And thus as to the first branch of Honour due to the King, the Honour of Obedience.

A second Honour, which we owe to him, is that of Fealty and Allegiance. The word Fealty signifies only Fidelity or Faith­fulness: and what the particulars of the Faith we owe to our Sovereign Lord the King are, we know all of us by the Oath of Allegiance. In particular, as we are not to be false Traytors our selves, so neither are we to connive at, or conceal, those whom we have reason to suspect to be such. And hereunto we are all of us bound.

First. By the Oath aforementioned, which that none may think an Imposition upon us, or contrary to the Laws of God, or to our Christian Liberty, behold it in the very Kingdom of Judah; that is, in the Kingdom which of all ever on Earth was that of Gods most peculiar Erection and Care. We had just now one proof of it out of Ecclesiastes; I coun­sel thee to keep the Kings Commandment by reason of the Oath of God: that Oath we cannot well conceive to be any other than the Oath of Allegiance, which they, to [Page 18] whom he speaks, had taken to their King, and particularly to King Solomon, the Penman of that Book. But in 1 Chron. last, 24. You have both the time, and manner or ceremony of taking it; Then Solomon sat on the Throne of the Lord as King instead of David his Father—And all the Princes and the mighty Men, and all the Sons of King David gave the Hand under Solomon; so the Text runs in the Hebrew, as you may see in the Mar­gin of your Bibles. And what that kind of speech signifies, you may learn out of the Story of Abrahams Servant, Gen. xxiv. 2, 3. Put, I pray thee, (saith Abraham to his Servant) thine Hand under my Thigh, and I will make thee swear by the Lord the God of Heaven and the God of Earth. The giving the Hand under one was the Cere­mony of a most solemn Oath By the Lord, that is, By Jehovah the God of Heaven and the God of Earth. So again when Jacob was dying in the Land of Egypt, he sent for his Son Joseph, and said unto him, Put, I pray thee, thine Hand under my Thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; Bury me not in Egypt, but I will lie with my Fathers, &c. And he said, swear unto me, and he sware unto him. Genes. xxvii. 29, 30, 31. So that this their giving their [Page 19] Hand under King Solomon, was swearing to him, in person, their Faith and Allegi­ance. You see then Divine Warrant for an Oath of Allegiance: And hereby first, I say, are we bound to pay our King the Honour of Fidelity: for this Oath we have all of us taken; or if any of us be so young as not to have taken it, such are to be minded, that we here all of us call our selves English-men. And every English-man is born, as I may say, with the Oath of Al­legiance in his mouth: our Fathers took it, and stand bound for us, and we therefore bound in them.

2. We are bound hereto by the Princi­ples of Equity and Justice, those common grounds of the Laws of Nations, and in­deed the true Law of Nature. We expect Protection from the King, his Laws and Government; and, God be blessed, we do enjoy it. Now is it not just, that as we have Safety from him, so he should have Security from us? What Nation is there, which gives not this Security to their Go­vernment? Indeed it is the very Bond of Government, without which it cannot sub­sist, but all must run into Seditions, Bloud­shed, Confusion & Anarchy: And therefore,

3. We are bound to pay our King the Honour of Faith and Allegiance in our own [Page 20] Defence: There are many who pretend, and have long pretended (God forgive them) to be afraid of their Property, Liberties and Religion.

My Brethren, what can more certainly and fatally expose or destroy all these, than Civil Wars? And Civil Wars must needs immediately come in upon us, if a­ny of us (at least any number of us) start or swerve from our Allegiance. Our King (under God alone) is able to protect us, our Properties, Liberties & Religion: and be­sides his Force & Power, he has manifested to the World, Courage, Will and Resolu­tion enough to protect us. In standing stedfast therefore, we secure and preserve our selves and ours: but if we stagger or fall off (which God forbid) we may wea­ken him, but we shall destroy our selves. I will add no more on this Point: I trust I do not need. Thus then as to the second branch of Honour due to the King, the Honour of Fealty and Allegiance, and our Obligations thereto. The third follows.

Thirdly then, We owe to our King, by the Laws of Christ, the Honour of Sup­plies and of paying Tribute. Kings must not be kept poor, for this is the way to make them useless, and to expose both them and their Subjects to the common [Page 21] Enemies of both. You know whose Com­mand it is, Render unto Cesar the things that are Cesars, and unto God the things that are Gods. Matth. xxii. 21. The Justice of which debt the Apostle gives us an ac­count, Rom. xiii. 6. For this cause pay we Tribute also, for they are Gods Ministers attending continually upon this very thing, the thing he had spoken of in the fourth Verse, namely, the publick Good: or in his language, to minister to every one for good; for the private good of each who doth good, and for the publick good of all by executing Wrath upon such as do evil. Now there is no greater burden than the perpetual Care, Toil and Difficulty which lies on Kings and Persons in the highest Power, in reference to such Administration of Justice, and other like publick affairs. And if our own private business and concerns cannot be carried on without Expence, what must be the Charge of the Concerns of a Kingdom? Wherefore, as the under­going such publick Cares and perpetual Anxieties deserves a publick and ample Reward (greater Wealth and Revenues than those of any private man) so the Necessiities of publick Business require greater Treasures to discharge them. Hence, I say, is most evident the Justice [Page 22] of the case, that Tributes and Supplies should be paid to Kings.

Let them be paid then, will some say, by them that reap the great benefit of the Government: but how will it be proved to be every mans Duty to pay them?

The Answer is easie, (1.) Who reaps not the benefit of the Government, and particularly the benefit of Protection by the Laws, both as to his Person, For­tunes, Liberty, good Name and the like? except he have deserved otherwise. He owes therefore for these, his share towards the defraying the publick Expences. But there is yet a farther Answer, (2.) We must know, the King has the same right to such Supplies as we speak of, to Tri­butes and his Revenues, as any of us have to our Estates.

Nature gives no man a property to his House, or Lands, or like possessions. It is the Law that determines and sets out each mans property. And the same Law that metes out to me, what is mine, as­signs [Page 23] to the King what is his. The same Law, that gives me liberty to traffick, to buy up, and export, and import Commo­dities, allots to the King his Customes: and it is as much a breach of the eighth Commandent (whatsoever some men think of it) to steal Custome, as to pick a mans pocket; of the two in some regard a greater.

I know the ordinary Evasion many have, with which they do not so much quiet, as for a while cheat or stifle their Conscien­ces. The Laws in this case, say they, are penal: if we submit to the Penalty of the Law, as we are content to do, when we are caught (which I must suspect, and they who say it would do well to con­sider, whether they so contentedly submit to legal Forfeitures as they pretend in this plea) if we submit to the Penalty, say they, we are guiltless, we have fulfilled the Law. I utterly deny this; and so will any man, who understands any thing of Casuastical Divinity. The Law by commanding me to do what will secure me from Penalty or Forfeiture, commands me not to in­cur that Penalty or Forfeiture: if there­fore I wittingly incur it, I break the Law, except there were more particular Salvo's than I have seen in any of our penal Laws.

But because some will not understand this in the general, let me put a particu­lar case: Suppose a man by defrauding the King of some (comparatively) small Dues, incurs a Forfeiture, which undoes him; Who now is guilty of undoing this man, the Law or himself? If he would have honestly paid the King such Dues, as he might have done, and yet been an honest Gainer, (which was the thing com­manded by the Law, and by the Law his Duty) he had been in a good condition: but he chooses to break the Law, and so has undone himself. Is he not now dou­bly gulty? first of a sin against the Law and the King. Secondly, is he not in some measure a Felo de se, at least a Rob­ber of himself and Family? and the Guilt must needs bear its proportion, and be Guilt still, though not so great, in case of lesser Penalties and Forfeitures. Where­fore we see we owe the King the Honour of Supplies, Custom or Tribute.

Fourthly. We owe him the Honour of Candour and charitable Construction, of thinking and speaking the best we can of him and all his actions. You never knew a person, who truly honoured another, but he would be so far from thinking vilely of his indifferent actions (mean of such actions, [Page 25] which might be capable of being done wisely, or to a good end, as well as other­wise) that he would find out excuses for his bad ones. I pray you let us all pay our Prince this Honour; at least, let none of us be guilty of interpreting to the worst, such Counsels and Actions, the reasons of which we do not yet (and per­haps it is not fit we should at present) un­derstand. This very practice, besides that it is most certainly our Duty to our King, would be no small service to our selves and neighbours: for it would prevent a multi­tude of those causeless, but very torment­ing, Fears and Jealoufies, nay even many divers reports too, which are very frequent all over the Kingdoms. But this I have for­merly otherwise prest.

Lastly, We owe to our King the Honour of our Prayers These passages were put in when the Sermon was preached a second time, in another place, and on a­nother occasion. [and of our Praises too] in his behalf. True Honour and Love are inseparable. And 'tis most sure no person of any seri­ous Religion ever honoured and loved any man, whom he did not pray for * [and in whose good he would not cordially re­joyce and praise God for it.] Remember that most solemn passage of the Apostle [Page 26] 1. Tim. II. 1, 2, 3. I exhort therefore first of all, that Supplications, Prayers, Intercessi­ons, and giving of Thanks be made for all men: for Kings and for all that are in Au­thority, that we may lead a quiet and peace­able life in all Godliness and Honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour. It is plain hence, that in the settling of the Service of God in the Church of Ephesus, one of St. Pauls first and chiefest cares, one of his strictest In­junctions was, that all sorts of Prayers should be offered up in the behalf of Kings; which I have otherwise more largely dis­coursed, and therefore for the present more briefly pass.

We see then now the main particulars of that Honour we are to pay the King by the Law of Christ. The Honour of Obedi­ence, of Faith and Allegiance, of Supplies and Tributes, of Candour and charitable Thoughts, and lastly of our Prayers of all kinds.

Obj. 1. And all this is true will some say; yes, it were fit too to be practised, were Kings such as they should be.

Answ. 1. As to this vile Suggestion (which it is too plain many more men harbour than dare speak out) I might only give a­gain the same Answer, I have formerly [Page 27] given, and say, in one word; we can find no fault in our King, but what is more the three Nations, than his own Guilt. Our former Crimes therefore, and the Effects they have had upon him, cannot but most iniquitously and unchri­stianly be made Arguments for withdraw­ing our present Duties.

Answ. 2. But once again; Secondly: Consider, I pray you, the Text and Con­text, the emphasis both bear, the Time in which, and the Persons to which, both were spoken, and if we have not such an An­swer hence to this Objectin, as will make us all ashamed so much as to think of withholding any branch of the Honour mentioned due to our King, I am much mistaken. As to the Time; it is most certain this Epistle must be writ either in the time of Claudius or Nero's Empire, ac­cording to Baronius in the formers: be it under whichsoever of the two, they were both not only Heathens and Enemies to Christianity, but villanously vitious Then as to the Persons, if we consider to whom the Apostle directs these his Commands, not only in general to all the Christian multitude, but more especially to the dis­persed Christian Jews in Pontus, Asia, &c. [Page 28] this contributes further to the utter avoid­ing all the force can be conceived in this Objection. The Jews we know were a peo­ple peculiarly chosen by God, and by him priviledged above all Nations: amongst o­ther Promises made them, that of dominion over the Nations was one, especially eyed by them; and nothing did they expect more constantly or passionately by the Messias, then temporal Empire. But e­ven to this people, and to the Christian (that is, the best) part of them, doth the very Apostle of the Circumcision preach Subjection, Honour and Obedience even towards Heathen Emperours and Princes. Now weigh the whole Emphasis: Was it thus particularly and expresly command­ed to the primitive (that is, the purest and most excellent Race of) Christians, that have lived in any ages of the world, that they should be dutiful and obedient to their Princes, though the worst of men? Were these same Commands too in common, & without any exemption imposed upon the Jews, that people peculiarly pri­viledged, as it would seem, to the con­trary? Nay, were they, as by name re­quired to be subject and obedient to all the Kings of the Nations they should live under? Were the Sons of God (as I may [Page 29] stile them) thus required to yield Sub­jection to Aliens, and men without God in the world, and can now any of us think, that, upon some private Reasons of our own, we may forbear, or do not owe, like Duty to our Native Liege-Lord and Sovereign, the same a mo [...] Gracious, Wise, Just and Virtuous Prince? for shame let us banish out of our Souls such Suggestions.

Object. 2. But it may be further urged; 'Tis not impossible that a Princes Title may be disputable, and what will you say in such a case? Are we to obey Intruders against tht rightful Heir?

Answ. 1. I answer, first there was ne­ver any Title so just and indisputable, but some unreasonable men have contested it. We find by the sacred Story, that when God appointed Kings, by immediate no­mination from Heaven, there arose cer­tain men, Sons of Beliel, who refused to own them; yet was their Title no less Divine and just for all that. But as to the Title of our present Sovereign, I protest before God, I cannot see any colour, any shadow of plausible appearance, that can be brought against it. What man of any Face, Rea­son, or Conscience can disbelieve our late Gracious Kings voluntary Protestation, both [Page 30] by Word of Mouth, and under his Hand to his Privy Council, and after publisht to the World? Consider, at what time it was made, on what Inducements possible it could be made? Had he not the Affections of a Father, as well as of a Brother? Was he likely to gain any thing by violating Ho­nour and Conscience, in avowing a falshood? Or could any thing but Justice, Care of his Peoples Peace and Safety, together with pure Conscience, and an entire regard of Truth, move him to give his Royal Word, Hand, and in a sort Oath, and that, of his own accord to attest the No-title of the present Rebellious Pretender, and the most just and full Title of our present Sovereign Lord and King? This one thing, in may apprehension, must for ever stop the mouths, and satis­fie the Minds of any that will hear Rea­son.

Answ. 2. Again, as to all that can be done by way of Ratification, or to speak more properly, Recognition of our Sove­reigns just Title, has it not been done? If you consider the way of his coming to the Crown, can it at all be said that he set up himself? Was he not immediately recogni­zed and proclaimed by the Nobility, Privy Council, and the whole body of his People (as far as then appeared) from the chief City [Page 31] of his Kingdoms, throughout City and Country every where in the whole three Kingdoms. Then, to wave the Solemni­ties of his most August Coronation, have not the full Houses of Parliament recognized, declared, and avowed him as their only right-Lord and King? Are not all degrees and sorts of men concluded in, and by their Represen­tatives in Parliament? 'Tis rescinding and giving the Lye to our own act, nay, par­don the expression, 'tis Rebellion against the Laws and Statutes of the Realm, against Acts of Parliament, (if such a thing as Re­bellion against them be possible) as well as Rebellion against the King, for us to stagger or be falling off now. But, I hope, I did not need to have been so particular and ear­nest in this place: However, the matter coming in my way, I was unwilling to be wanting to my Duty, and that any of you should be wanting to yours.

Wherefore, to enforce now what I have been so long teaching and asserting, d [...]e Honour to our King; let us now consider the other point remaining, the Connexion betwixt these two Duties. Fear God, honour [...]he King: The putting them thus imme­diately together seems to suggest, that if we do fear God, we shall honour the King; and that by giving him all these [Page 32] branches or kinds of Honour mentioned.

Now the general Ground of this Con­clusion is, that the Fear of God is an uni­versal and invariable Principle of most im­partial Obedience to the whole Law of Christ. He who fears God makes no such difference between the Commands of God, as to account any small, or such, which he may wave at pleasure without guilt. For he that said, do not commit Adultery, said also do not kill: now if thou commit no Adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a Transgressor of the Law, Jam. II. 11. And the same God, you have heard, said fur­ther, Honour thy Father and thy Mother, that is, in one sense of the Command, Pay thy King, as well as Parents, the Honour of Obedience, together with the other points of Honour mentioned. Wherefore if the Fear of God so far sway in our hearts, that it control, govern and direct our Actions, we shall be loyal as well as devout; for there is the same Divine Law and Authority for both: and if in one point we cast off the Fear of God, 'tis vain to pretend it in another the same Fear▪ were it sincere and real, would operate to all cases as well as one. When Herod i [...] tender of breaking his Oath, but not o [...] Murder and guiltless Bloud, it is sure he i [...] [Page 33] such a Judg which fears not God, however, for some vain Honours sake, he may regard Men. When Judas is thrifty, and cannot endure that so much waste should be made of a Box of Ointment (though it was a kind of fore-embalming his Master) but in Charity had much rather it had been sold and given to the poor, yet can upon the first occasion play the Traytor, in the vilest and most mercinary sort, we may be sure the Devil has entred him, the Fear of God possesseth him not; such damn'd Partiality could not consist with that Fear And so in the pre­sent case: they are only such Apostles as Judas, who can at once pretend to the Spirit of Christ, and yet joyn with, assist and animate Rebels; nay, which is more deplorable, imagine, contrive, hatch and bring forth Rebellion. But we have not so learned Christ, if so be that we have heard him, and been taught by him, as the Truth is in Jesus. This is the general Ground: and as to more particular ones they have been already toucht. For,

1. We have heard that Kings are on Earth Gods Vicegerents: now can any man pretend Faith and Duty to his Sovereign in person, and at the same time defie, vilifie or depose him in his Viceroy? Is it not the same Royal Power that resides in both [Page 34] as such? And is not the Undutifulness and Disloyalty to the Kings Majesty in his Viceroy, still an Offence against the Kings Majesty? Hear God himself deciding the case expresly, 1 Sam. viii. 7. They have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. And,

2. Can any of us after such express Texts produced doubt, but it is Gods de­clared Will and peremptory Command that we should be obedient to the King, and them which are sent by him? Is the fifth Com­mandment no part of the Moral Law? Or are the 13th of the Romans (Let every Soul be subject to the higher Powers) and this Pa­ragraph of St. Peters Epistle, whence the Text is taken, no Gospel? Did not Christ and his Apostles, and the whole body of primitive Christians thus live, and thus teach? Was there in those days any such thing heard of, as Resistance of Powers, or Plots and Designs against Government, though then the Government was in the hands of the unjustest and most tyrannical persons the Earth ever bore? Did not Christianity grow up under Persecutions, and was not the Bloud of the Martyrs the Seed of the Church? This Scripture, this all Antiquity teacheth us.

And herein indeed I must commend the [Page 35] Ingenuity of some of the Rebellious Saints of the late Age; when particularly prest to produce Divine Warrant for Subjects taking Arms against the King, or to shew where it might be found written in the Gospel, that it was lawful to rise up against the Government John Goodwin particu­larly. some of them ingenuously confest, that there was no Text for it, nor was it a Doctrine of the ancient Christianity; but they had it from the Spirit of God dwel­ling in themselves, and it was a secret re­served by God to be revealed in the later age of the world, when it would come to be more seasonable than it would have been in the Infancy of Christianity. Ingenuè Peribo­nius, a fair Confession indeed: But I be­seech you, Brethren, keep to the old and undoubted Christianity. Be followers of Christ Jesus: and if you are so, the Fear you have of God & the Faith you have of Christ, will certainly lead you, as Christ did, to give unto Cesar the things that are Cesars, as well as unto God the things that are Gods; that is, you will conclude the Duty to your God and to your King thus far in­separable.

To shut up all briefly in a double Ex­hortation.

First. As the foundation of all Since­rity, of all Honesty and Duty both to God and Man, study and endeavour above all things to possess your hearts with a fixed and unmovable Fear of God The way and means thereto, has been most plainly laid open in the beginning. We have seen the true rise of that Fear, and its genuine Nature. It is a lasting sense of the Being, Sovereignty, Omniscience, Ju­stice and Power of God. Inure your selves then to think much hereon, and to attend hereto in all your actions. Let these thoughts lie down with you by night, and awake with you in the morning, and ac­company you in all your ways and busi­ness. God sees. God will bring to account. By this means the Wisemans Advice will have effect upon you; you will be in the Fear of the Lord all the day long, Proverbs xxiii. 17.

Secondly. Let the Fear of God have its perfect work. Be not so false to your selves, as to have the Fear of God with partiality: but whatsoever you see is matter of his Will, Command and Law, and so conse­quently of your Duty, do you honestly, and without picking and choosing settle to, and be conscientious in all and every such thing. How canst think to answer at the [Page 37] great Tribunal of God, the laying aside a­ny of his Laws? And particularly, if Dam­nation be dreadful (as what can be so, if that be not?) remember who has said, they that resist shall receive to themselves dam­nation. Now thou canst not partake with those who do resist, but thou must resist also Certainly if these things be laid to heart, we shall all be no less good Subjects to our King, than to God; that is we shall be loyal and faithful unto both. Now God make us all such, and keep us faithful unto Death, that we may receive the Crown of Life. Which God grant, &c.

REX REGIƲS. Kings succeeding in a right Line a National Blessing.
Proved in a SERMON preached in Christ church at Cork, Octob. 14. 1685. being His Ma­jesties Birth-day.

THe great Designs of our being as­sembled here this day, I will pre­sume, are or ought to be, chief­ly these two.

First. To pay God our more solemn Thanksgivings for our Gracious King [Page 2] and the Blessings we enjoy under his hap­py Reign. And,

Secondly. Together to possess both our own and others minds, as universally as we can, with deeper Impressions of our Duty to our King, and fresh Resolutions of Loyal Adhesion.

Now these things being designed by us upon his Birth-day, as this is, whatever Ad­vantages his Descent, Family or Extraction (which certainly have operated more to our Happiness, than most are aware of) may be conceived to add, either to the quickening our Gratitude, or fixing in us a more lasting sense of our Obligations and Duty, ought not, on this Solemnity, in all reason to be omitted, or to pass uncon­sidered.

The Text very pertinently suits with our designs; and especially, in that it asserts and celebrates, as most conducive to the publick Good, such peculiar circumstances and qualifications as, God be blessed, are most eminent and exemplary in our present Sovereign.

Blessed art thou, O Land, when thy King i [...] the Son of Nobles, and thy Princes eat in d [...] season, for Strength and not for Drunker­ness.

King Solomon, the Author hereof wa [...] [Page 3] as much a Prince as a Philosopher, as deep­ly insighted into Political Affairs, as into Natural or Moral Sciences. And we have many Proofs hereof in several Paragraphs (or little Discourses) of Political concern­ment in this Book. This, out of which the Text is taken, is one, but very short; consisting only of two Aphorisms, and those containing matter of his Observati­ons, or his Sense in brief, touching the different Estate of Kingdoms according to the different Qualifications or Circumstances of their Princes.

Wo to thee, O Land, when thy King is a Child, and thy Princes eat in the morn­ing! ver. 16.

The word Child here must not be taken strictly for an Infant, but (as both the Ori­ginal signifies, and the Septuagint have ren­dred it, [...]) for a young person. And it is in Scripture applied (1.) To Age, so as to signifie a young person. (2.) Because young persons used to be imployed in At­tendance and Services, to Condition (and thus the young men in Scri­pture language very often 1 Sam. ii. 13. 2 Sam. ii. 14. &c. is as much as the Servants or Attendants.) Or (3.) To Ʋnderstanding: in which re­gard, King Rehoboam though then above [Page 4] one and forty years was said [...] young and tender-hearted, 2 Chron. xiii. 7. All which acceptations are necessary here to be no­ted, that the opposite hereof, the Son of Nobles, in the Text, may be better un­derstood.

Of Eating in the Morning, &c. we shall touch by and by. In the mean while the sum of this his first Observation is, That it is generally a great unhappiness for a Na­tion to have either a young, ignoble, shal­low or voluptuous Prince. God be bles­sed, our Kings vilest Enemies can affix none of these to him.

But contrarily, Blessed art thou, O Land, when thy King is the Son of Nobles, and thy Princes eat in due season, for Strength, and not for Drunkenness. That term, the Son of Nobles, is capable of a double sense: Strictly and literally taken, it signifies, on­ly a Person of Noble Extraction, or descend­ed from a Noble Family. But taken ac­cording to the Hebrew Idiom, as we say the Sons of Men, that is Men; so the Son of Nobles will be a Person of a noble Spirit, ge­nerous, great and brave. Nothing hinders but we may understand the term both ways. And in the Interpretation of Scri­ptures, where several senses are probable and wholesome, it is, as one calls it, a [Page 5] piece of spiritual Frugality to take both, or even all. It is indeed an holy making the most of Scripture. And if we regard what was said before in the Explication of the word Child in the former verse, that it signifies not only what we commonly mean by the name [a person of few years,] but also either one of a mean or servile con­dition, or even of a weak and mean Soul, the Opposition which must be admitted be­tween these two branches [Wo be to thee, O Land, when thy King is a Child] and [Blessed be thou, O Land, when thy King is the Son of Nobles] will enforce us to take this term in both the senses menti­oned.

Then as to what may see, dubious or obscure in the latter clause of the Text; Eating in due season, for Strength, and not for Drunkenness, seems at first only a de­scription of temperate Diet. Eating in due season, is opposed to Eating in the morning. The morning is no season for men to set themselves to Eating; but first for Devo­tion, then for Business. Eating for Strength, and not for Drunkenness determines both the Quantity and Quality of our Food. For it is plain, men may make themselves drunk with a small measure of some kind of Li­quors, as well as with a large one of o­thers. [Page 6] These three therefore, To Eat and Drink in due season, in due measure, and of such viands as are convenient for us, make up what we call Temperance in Diet. But this single Virtue, as being the principal part of Sobriety, and that which is main­ly instrumental to preserve Reason and Consideration, is put Synecdochically for a considerative Virtuous Temper and Pra­ctice; in opposition, especially, to a vo­luptuous and sensual Life; which, who­soever give themselves up to, whether no­ble or plebeian, are neither sit for, nor can mind or happily dispath, Business. And so the sum of the Royal Preachers Observation in the Text amounts to this; 'Tis a singular Blessing to a Nation to have a King nobly descended, of a noble Mind, not young or unexperienc'd, not giving himself o­ver to Pleasures and excess, but grave, ab­stemious, considerative and virtuous. And all this, praised be our good God, is a Bles­sedness which these Nations at present en­joy.

The Text being thus explained, it fol­lows, that we speak distinctly to its parts: which I shall not be curious in assigning. It being a compound or copulative Pro­position, consists evidently of two simple ones, the first whereof is, Blessed art thou, [Page 7] O Land, when thy King is the Son of Nobles. We ought then first to consider, what Fe­licities they are, which amount to a Peo­ple by having their Prince of Noble Ex­traction.

And in answer hereto, if my Discourse be not at present so perfectly or wholly Theological, as I could desire, or, as are generally those, with which I use to en­tertain you, I must beg your pardon: the nature of the Subject matter does not ad­mit it: But, I am sure, the End I drive at, or that to which all tends, is truly Holy, Religious and Christian.

Now the great Benefits which reasona­bly a People may expect under such a Prince are, I think, chiefly these three.

Blessings! which one would think should endear the Government to us, and which, I am sure, whether we will acknowledge or no, the Kingdoms generally enjoy; especially if we consider how at present it goes with other neighbouring Nations. And these, I say, by Gods Blessing, and [Page 8] upon our own Loyalty, we may reasona­bly expect the continuance of, under our Sovereign and the present Constitution, that is, while we are governed by Kings who are the Sons of Nobles. For,

First. With Noble Personages generally go Noble Estates and Revenues. When men who were born Princes come to the Throne, they carry with them thither their private Fortunes and former Princi­palities, joyning all to the Crowns they take. A great Felicity this to the Publick, and much for the aggrandising a Nation, as well as for the Ease of the middle rate of men, on whom commonly all burdens fall. Kings cannot be too rich, though Sub­jects may. 'Tis for the Benefit of the whole body of their People, that Princes abound. They will then be better able to defend both themselves and Subjects; and that with fewer, lighter and more easie Supplies. On the contrary, where indi­gent and poor men come to rule, though never so virtuous, upright and just, ne­ver so sweet, generous and noble mind­ed, yet [Necessitas cogit ad turpia] a poor Princes own, or the publick Necessities, will put him on Practices dishonourable, and which will be uneasie and grating on the the Subject. For what vast Treasures are [Page 9] cessary to settle a new Prince? What un­thought of Expences incident? Extraordi­nary Exigents of State, private Accidents, Families to be raised, Dependants to be advanced, and a multitude of like occasi­ons? Of all which the ordinary sort must bear the main burden. Wherefore no such Oppressor as a poor Man in chief Power. Prov. xxiii. 3. A poor man, that op­presseth the Poor, is like a sweeping Rain, which leaveth no Food. Though therefore it was a King in the Text that said it, yet it would seem of all Degrees the Commona­lity may in this respect most justly pro­nounce, Blessed art thou, O Land, when thy King is the Son of Nobles.

Secondly. The Sons of Nobles most ge­nerally prove Noble and Heroical themselves, and of great and brave Souls. Fortes cre­antur fortibus & bonis. Eagles naturally produce not Kites or Buzzards: There is a Royal Spirit runs in Royal Bloud. And it has been observed by the wisest and most impartial men, such which are best Judges in these matters, I mean, least obnoxious to mistake and freest from Flattery, that many Princes even while young, and within those years which ordinarily denominate Children, have far surpast in ripeness of Wit, Prudence, Counsel or like Qualifications, [Page 10] the generality of adult persons, of above twice their years, though of liberal and good lettered Education also. This, a­mongst others, was manifest to all the world in that blessed Prince Edward VI. King of England, whom Cardan (an Itali­an by Birth as well as Religion, but one of the most learned men and greatest Phi­losophers then in the world) having visit­ed, could not forbear wonder, and giving him so great a Character, as is scarce cre­dible touching one of so few years. It is too long to repeat the whole, but in the end he expresly stiles him the Miracle of Nature. And it is truly much, to have been ever from the Cradle fill'd with great thoughts, possest with Principles and De­signs of publick Good, and bred by Art, as well as by Nature dispos'd and fram'd for Government. Now this may be expected from the Sons of Nobles, and is almost ever found in those who are born Princes. They cannot well be base spirited, but an­swer their Originals and Condition of Life. From whence, how naturally the forementioned Advantages will flow to their Subjects, any may easily see who pleases to consider the Case. On the con­trary, when men either by the Sword, or Popular Favour and Factions, come to the [Page 11] Throne, they retain dreadful tinctures of the Cruelty, Bloudiness, Partiality or other base Arts, that advanced them. Whence it comes to pass that they rule with Tyranny and Oppression, at least, that they gene­rally administer (pardon the solecism) un­equal and partial Justice: Where they dare to punish, they commonly (though on slight occasions) crush irreparably: where they dare not, they will not see, but haply flatter or fawn, at least basely dis­semble, and personate Justice, only in be­ing blind: And what Grievances, how great and various must arise hence, is not easie, I had almost said to imagine, I am sure not to comprehend or determine. Re­member Jothans Parable, Judg. ix. 15. When the Bramble was advanced to be King over the Trees, he said unto the Trees, if in truth ye anoint me King over you, then come and put your trust in my Shadow: and if not, let Fire come out of the Bramble and devour the Cedars of Lebanon. The Bram­ble is no such tall, erect or strong plant, that its shadow was likely, I should have said possible, to defend the Trees, from the injuries either of Storms or scorching Heat: Yet if the Trees would not accept of this its shelter, as insignificant and ridiculous as it was, from such a King, nothing but [Page 12] consuming Fire was to be expected even to the very goodliest Cedar. And the matter of fact proved such in that very case to which this Parable was adapted. The men of Shechem (ver. 2. that is, the Ma­nassites and Ephraimites, that inhabited that City and its Territories) forgetting the Benefits they had received from Jeru­baal, upon Abimelechs insinuations and wheadling of them, chose him, who was only Jerubaals Natural Son by an Hand­maid of his, for their King, rejecting Jeru­baals legitimate Issue; they furnish him with Treasure, wherewith he hired vain and light men that followed him, that is, wherewith he raised a kind of a paltry Ar­my: By the assistance of these, he goes and cuts off all the legitimate Issue of Je­rubaal, threescore and ten persons on one stone: excepting only Jothan that fled. But soon after God was meet with him, and Jothans Curse, which I before repeated, befell both him and them. God sent an evil spirit between the men of Shechem and Abimelech. They dealt treacherously with one another. For they conspire against him; he chaseth them out of their City, kills and slays as many as he could, drives the rest into a Castle, and by a stratagem burns a thousand of them in the Castle, into which he had driven them. [Page 13] Thus almost literally, Fire comes out of the Bramble to consume the Cedars. And in the end besieging a Tower, into which another party of them had fled, he is himself knockt on the head by a piece of a Milstone thrown down from the top of the Portal by a Wo­man. Thus back again Destruction comes out from a Shrub to consume the very Bram­ble. They rend and tear one another, till the Bastard Prince and his People mutual­ly perish by one anothers hand. Nor is this a single or rare case, as to matter, at least, of the Tyranny of ignoble persons. It has been the Experience of all Ages and Countries, that there is no such Cruelty and Invasion on all mens Rights, Proper­ties, and even Lives, as under upstart Governments and Governours. But I shall not stand to multiply instances. I will only note, This is the first of the three things for which the Earth is disquieted, and which it cannot bear; For a Servant when he reigneth. Prov. xxx. 22. For they bring with them Spirits unequal to their new Place. Wherefore blessed art thou, O Land, when thy King is the Son of Nobles.

Thirdly. The Title of Kings the Sons of Nobles is generally certain, and their suc­ceeding, or coming to the Crown, peace­able, uncontroverted, submitted to and [Page 14] quiesced in by all. Now this is an un­speakable Benefit to a Nation, when Kings dye almost like other men, and the Go­vernment, as an Estate in Fee, descends to the rightful Heir, without noise and publick concussions: when there are no Earthquakes, as I may call them, in the Commonwealth, but as in the Succession of other Noble Men to their Palaces, Lands and Honours, there is only the al­teration of a single person or two: If you come into the Family, you shall find few new Faces, but generally the House looks all as it did; the old Servants still fill their old Places, and no Servant is at a loss for his Portion in due season. How easie must this be to the People? scarcely percepti­ble, and in a manner only a vicissitude, or kind of exchange of Happiness. Whereas the setting up of new Titles has inunmera­ble Inconveniencies, and cannot be effected (if at all) without great and lasting Com­motions. 'Tis difficult to do, long a do­ing, and perhaps never well done; And in all these stages of its progress a Plague to the People This is so clear, that I con­fess I am amazed, that any men, who pre­tend to Sense and Judgment, should be so fond of an Elective form of Kingship, or (what is much the same) altering the true [Page 15] legitmate Succession. And now I have na­med it, (and indeed I named it with de­sign, as being most pertinent to my Sub­ject) let me conjure you all, in the name of God, and as you tender your own and your Posterities Welfare, that you never hearken to men who would instill such Notions. God be blessed the Crisis is o­ver; and there's no danger, I think, at present, of any mens being about at­tempting matter of practice of this kind. But, I say, suffer no little State-menders to possess you or yours with any such Spe­culations, or Notional imgagitations. Stick to Solomons Doctrine in my Text, of the happiness of being governed by Kings the Sons of Nobles in an uninterrupted Line, and never hear of otherwise transferring Royalty.

And here give me leave in a few words, as the last Argument, to assert the Peoples Happiness in being under Kings the Sons of Nobles, to shew you out of Scripture something of the mischief of Elective King­doms, which too many in these Nations, of late years, have madly driven at. As long as I keep to Scripture, I may suppose my self not much, if at all, out of my Kew.

First. In such cases, on every change, [Page 16] it cannot be comprehended or stated, how great the publick Sufferings or miseries may may prove; but in the general it is most certain the people must suffer much, at least, all mens Rights, Families and even persons must be in perpetual turmoil and danger by reason of the uncertainty as well as variations of Kings, or of the particular methods of Government, sometimes it will not be known who is King: one party will contend one is, another will say theirs is; and however, the Power, that made one King to day, can unmake him to mor­row; and amongst so changeable a Gene­ration, as they say we Islanders be, indeed as all mankind is, there can be expected no stability. Be pleased to see instances to this purpose out of holy Scripture. The People of Israel, who I am sure were no Islanders, I mean the ten Tribes fell off from the House or Line of David, which God had chosen and set over them, and they would choose for themselves, and a very popular man they did choose, for their King; namely Jeroboam the Son of Nebat, 1 King. xii. 20. After Wars, Disorders and Desolations, which lasted all his days, and during which, in one Battel there fell of the Israe­lites 2 Chronicl. xiii. 7, &c. five hundred thousand cho­sen [Page 17] men (which would make five greater Armies than, I think, we have usually heard of in this age, and perhaps is a greater number of fighting men, than ma­ny populous Kingdoms, such as are now a­days can send forth) and from which nei­ther Jeroboam nor his People ever recovered themselves. (ver. 20.) After Jeroboams two and twenty years Rebellion against God (in corrupting his Worship and People with Idolatry for which they were finally destroyed) as well as against two of his lawful Sovereigns successively; after all this Iliad of Miseries, the Lord struck him and he died.

His Son Nadab succeeds him indeed, or, as some think, reigned together with him towards the latter end of his days. However, before he was well warm in his Throne, Baasha (a person of another Tribe, who had no pretence to the Crown, but who might quickly have as good a Title to it as either Jeroboam or Nadab had) conspired against him and slew him, as would seem, in the head of his Army, and reigned in his stead, 1 King. xv. 27, 28. But how long will this new Title stand? After Wars again upon Wars, all his days, his Son Ela succeeds him: but with­in two years Zimri Captain of half his Chari­ots [Page 18] conspired against him, and slew him, as he was drinking himself drunk in the House of Arza his Steward. Upon this Zim­ri sets up himself (chap. xvi. 9. 11.) and immediately slew all of Baasha 's House: (Here was a Recompence for Baasha's Treason.) But before Zimri had reigned over part of Israel full one week, another part of the people would have another King, and set up Omri: on which Zimri burns himself in his own Palace. And now (ver. 21.) Israel is divided, not only from Judah, as before, but within them­selves: divided into two parts, saith the Text: For half of the People followed Tibni to make him King, and half Omri. To be short, from the time the Israelites fell off from the Royal Line that God had set o­ver them, and betook themselves to King­choosing, from that Revolt, I say, to Om­ri, which was somewhat less than five and forty years, if rightly computed, they had six Kings indeed, but not one year of Peace: and of their six Kings, as far as I can find, only two died the death of other men; so frequent and so dismal were the Alterations of Government! so unhappy the state of things!

I will pursue the History of this King­dom no further, as to this particular of [Page 19] the uncertainty of Titles, and frequent Changes, which you see must needs hap­pen, and when they happen, they rend Nations in pieces, and leave nothing sta­ble, durable or secure; only out of what you have heard of the deplorable state, into which this People brought themselves, by breaking off the Succession, and running into this kind of Elective Kingdom, I cannot but note to you,

Secondly, The dreadful Cruelties and Bloudshed, which commonly ensue on such Elections, to establish the New Prince. Thus as soon as Baasha obtained the Throne he smote all the House (that is, Kin­red, Allies, and most likely all the Adhe­rent of Jeroboam;) he left not one of them that breathed until he had destroyed them, 1 King. xv. 29. which, though it were Baa­sha's Wickedness, and Gods just Judgment, executed on Jeroboams Family (however by a villanous Agent) yet in point of Policy and Security to himself, he was in a sort necessitated to it; Now so great a Slaugh­ter certainly could not but be a sore pub­lick Wound. I might shew many instan­ces of the like practice in in others, but it is not pleasing to rake in Bloud.

Lastly. Whereas it is ordinarily pre­tended by our modern State-menders, that [Page 20] reducing Kingdoms, as near as may be, to an Elective form, is the best method to se­cure a Succession of good and virtuous Princes, the contrary hereto appears by this instance; The People of Israel, after this new mo­delling their Kingdom, upon rejecting the true Heir descendent, and electing out of themselves a King, had through the Judg­ment of God withdrawing his Grace in punishment of their Rebellion and Revolt, from this time till the utter Dissolution of their Kingdome, nineteen Kings succes­sively, and not one good amongst them all: And no wonder, saith a sober Au­thor: For,

First. It was a Kingdome whose Founda­tion was laid in

• 1. Rebellion.
• 2. Schism.

Secondly: It was maintained by a Politick Idolatry: in the continuance of Jeroboams Golden Calves.

Thirdly. Polluted with the Bloud of many of their Kings; few of them going to their Grave, Sicca morte [by a Bloudless death]. And therefore having continued two hundred forty one, or as others calculate, two hundred fifty eight, years, in the ninth year of Hosea 's [Page 21] Reign (which was the seventh of Hezekiah King of Judah) the King and People of Isra­el were carried away Captives by Shalmane­zer King of Assyria, and never returned again: for God removed Israel out of his sight? 'Tis so said twice, 2 King. xvii. 18, 23. And 'tis observable, no one knows to this day whats become of these ten Tribes. But even during the whole state or most settled time of their Kingdome, they had no face of true Religion, nor indeed any Religion constant amongst them; but a Gallimafry of all the Gods and Idolatries of the Nations, according to the Honour or Interest of their Kings.

On the other side, the Kingdome of Ju­dah, which continued under the Right­ful Succession and was Hereditary, stood near one hundred and forty years longer, than that of Israel, and they had amongst their Kings many great Saints, as Asa, Jehosophat, Hezekiah, Josiah, and diverse others. And though the Worship of God were often foully corrupted, in the Reign of some of their Kings, yet as that Corrup­tion still came in from the Kings of Israel, or from Affinity or League with them, so by the Succession of good Kings it was re­stored again, and both the Church and Face of Religion kept up amongst them; [Page 22] till it pleased God, for their treading in the steps of the People of Israel, to send his Church into Captivity, there to be cured of Idolatry. Which Cure when wrought (though there still remained a general Cachexy or disorder of Manners) yet it pleased God to bring back for a while their Captivity, and to give them a new footing in their own Land; till out of that Royal Stem was born our Lord Je­sus, the promised Seed of Abraham, the Son of David according to the Flesh, but de­clared, by Power and Resurrection from the dead, the Son of God, the Lord of Lords and King of Kings, blessed for evermore, of whose Kingdom there shall be no end.

To sum up all; If then there be any men, to whom perpetual unsettledness and dangers to themselves and theirs, to whom continued ages of War, to whom ever and anon recurring Murder of Kings, Massacres of Families, together with all Violence and Tyranny over the people, and even Arbi­trary Religion, as well as Government (Ʋsur­pation on God and Man) be pleasing, such men may plead these Arguments to enamour the world with the model of Elective King­doms.

But on the contrary; If Publick Wealth, Ease and Quiet; I may add, if continued Li­berties, [Page 23] settled Religion, and general Stability (as far as the state of sublunary affairs does admit) be more amiable, we have reason to stick to a true Legitimate Succession. For it was the Observation of the wisest of Kings, Blessed art thou, O Land, when thy King is the Son of Nobles: and we see how far it proved so in the Kingdom of Ju­dah.

We have hitherto, as I think is most proper, and at least on this day most sea­sonable, taken the words literally. I be­fore intimated another sense of them, by which Son of Nobles came to denote persons in themselves truely Noble, that is, of gene­rous, brave and virtuous Souls: But this we have in part seen to be a frequent con­sequent of Lineal Nobility: and withal the second member of the Text will lead us into its consideration. For it follows, Blessed are thou, O Land, when thy Princes eat in season, and not for Drunkenness.

As to Explication of this clause, it re­mains only to be added to what has been abovesaid of it, that the word Princes may be interpreted either,

1. Of the Supreme, the King him­self. Or,

2. Of Subordinate Nobles or Governours: as we read usually in the Scripture of [Page 24] Kings and their Princes, that is, Peers or Ministers of State. Or,

3. Perhaps it is the best way not to un­derstand it singly or solely of either, but jointly of both.

And truly there is very good reason for this last Interpretation. For generally if the Prince Supreme, that is, the King him­self be temperate and virtuous, the Princes subordinate will be so too; Temperance and Virtue will grow into fashion at Court. And thus taken, this our second part not only in general asserts, the Sove­reigns Virtue to be the Peoples Blessedness, but gives us a main specialty of that Blessed­ness, Virtue and good Manners will generally prevail in such a Kingdome; than which there cannot be a greater good to a King­dome.

And this we will take as the first point of Advantage accruing to a People by their Kings being virtuous, His Example will take: It will have influence first on them that that are next him, the Nobles, Grandees or Favourites: It will from them diffuse it self through all Orders and Ranks of Men: for where shall not so powerful a Precedent be drawn into imitation. The very Defects and natural Blemishes of Kings have been affected: how much more [Page 25] shall their Honours & Excellencies be co­pied? This is matter of constant experi­ence; Qualis Rex, talis Grex, the People will be like their King. If David be a war-like Prince, you shall hear of Davids Worthies: His Courtiers shall be Heroes as he is. If Solomon grow effeminate, the Sub­jects shall all degenerate with him; Not a good Soldier in all his Reign, but what was left by his Father David. And so in case of other Qualities.

Now, without doubt, as there is no such Plague to a Nation, as the Corrupti­on of the publick Manners; so, I say, no greater Blessing, than the Melioration of them. The Roman Empire, say its Histo­rians, grew to its height by Temperance, In­dustry and Justice. When its Cesars be­came wicked, and meer voluptuaries, it soon fell, [stantibus Moenibus, ruentibus Moribus] by the decay of its Manners, though its Walls stood. Blessed therefore art thou, O Land, when thy Princes eat in season, for Strength, and not for Drunken­ness.

And from this first Advantage will by plain natural causality slow a multitude of others, more indeed than is easie to com­prehend or enumerate. What an Influence upon the Justice of the Nation must the ge­neral [Page 26] Virtue of the Prince and Grandees have? For certainly the more virtuous they are, who administer Justice, the more equal Justice will be administred. Virtue will be encouraged, consulted and upheld, virtuous men preferred and exalted; Vice discountenanc'd and punisht; serious Religion as well as civil Rights maintained, and all the honest Designs and Desires of good men will generally succeed.

Again, how must the same influence all publick Councils and Transactions? When the Prince and his Council are ever clear and mature, when they have ever both temper and time to think, are intent and watchful, ready to take all advantages for Good, and to foresee publick Evils in their remote causes, while they yet want strength to be mischievous, what may not be hoped for? From hence it is plain, those forementioned so popular Goods of Wealth, Ease, and Quiet are in the fairest way to be provided for.

Especially considering, lastly, that so regular Lives and Manners of Prince, No­bles and People conspiring (as is supposed) in Temperance, and in general Virtue, must needs derive Gods Blessing both upon them all, and upon the whole Management and Administration of things. For God [Page 27] will certainly verify the Word which he has publisht, or, as I may say, his Faith which he has given, to the world; Say ye to the righteous, it shall be well with them, they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Isai. iii. 10. And Righteousness and Peace will assuredly meet and kiss each other. Upon all accounts then we may pronounce, Blessed art thou, O Land, when thy Princes eat in due season, for Strength, and not for Drun­kenness.

To come now to Application, and to bring all we have said to some serious, practical result.

If we reflect and consider with our selves, we shall certainly find we are a bles­sed Land, and that in both the regards spe­cified in the Text. We cannot surely but be sensible of that profound Peace and gene­ral Prosperity which God has vouchsafed us in this Kingdom under our present Sove­reign: These are most obvious to every mans notice, and I may say, whether we will or no, we cannot but perceive them. But perhaps the immediate Combination, and happy Conspiracy of Causes, which God makes use of to effect these, all of us do not consider. Now I cannot tell whether any truer causes can be assigned hereof than these in my Text. We have a King [Page 28] both who is the Son of Nobles, and who eats in due season, for Strength, and not for Drun­kenness. A Virtue! which will make not only Princes, but even common mens af­fairs succeed well; and it were to be wish­ed to many meaner men, for their own sakes, that there were more of this in the world. For if Luxury has exhausted the Treasures of Kings and Kingdoms, it will much more easily and certainly consume private Estates. But to return to the pub­lick. Our Sovereigns not only Virtues, but Extraction, Title, and Interest (God be blessed) render him great and potent: and hereto, I say, namely, to his Extra­ction and Title, to his Virtues and Inte­rest, we do certainly under God, as much as to any thing, owe our present Quiet and flourishing Estate. Flourishing Estate I called it: for if will be true to our selves, there is nothing to make our Con­dition in general otherwise, except the un­reasonable Fears, or possibly the Narrow­ness of some of our own Hearts. Where­fore.

1. Let us seriously and from the ground of our hearts give God thanks for our pre­sent King, for his settling him in his Throne, for the Quiet and Ease which we enjoy thereby, and for his happy and au­spicious [Page 29] Reign over us hitherto. Methinks no man amongst us, who has his Senses ex­ercised, should be backward in this Office. I do not know that any is: However I ex­hort that none be. I will plainly make the challenge to any: What Blessing could you desire (at least, which you can prove to be a publick Blessing) what Blessing, I say, could you desire to enjoy, from or un­der any Prince, which is not at present indulged under our Gracious Sovereign. Have we not Property and Liberty, and, if we will not break it our selves, sacred as well as civil Peace? In a word, we are ei­ther stupid, or besides our selves with pre­judices, if we are not sensible what Com­plications of Blessings we enjoy: and we are most vilely ungrateful, if being sensi­ble thereof, we pay not our ardent and cordial Praise to God for His Majesty, un­der whom we enjoy them.

2. Because true Gratitude lies not only in Words and Professions, nor yet in some high-flown Ceremonies and Rodomon­tades amidst our Jollities and Revels, let us be careful (what we have been often ex­horted to do) that both our selves and all under us maintain unspotted Loyalty to our King: This will be real Thankfulness to him; and the contrary thereto (which I [Page 30] hope we all abhor) would be the highest and most unnatural Ingratitude both to God and him. To be plain: I do not be­lieve, as to the business of Rebellion, there is any fear we of these parts shall ever break out into it, or side with those who do: I cannot be so unjust as so much as to surmise it: but give me leave to tell you, there are other Violations of Loyalty, besides running out into open Arms or Warlike Hostility against our Kings, to which Vio­lations the Manners and Humours of the late Age have rendred most of us, of the present Age, too much addicted. I will reckon up three of them, and I, in the name of God, as you would not approve your selves unthankful to God and the King, warn you all of them.

In the first place I name unreasonable fears: so unreasonable indeed as to be grosly un­just; because they are both against what His Majesty has promised, and against what we yet find he does perform. Now shall we neither believe a King upon his Word, nor upon his Performances? What a miserable condition are Princes in, if they of all men are the persons, who on no terms may be credited or trusted? Let us in the name of God take heed of such mon­strous Disloyalty. Akin hereunto are,

Secondly, Those abominable Misconstructi­ons, which too commonly the generality of men are apt to put upon particular acts of the Government. If a Prince take but a prudential course to secure his Authori­ty, there are many shall say, he makes preparation to destroy his People. Now what an unreasonable thing is it to ima­gine any Prince should wittingly set him­self to destroy his People? Does he not thereby, not only manifestly every minute hazard his own Life (for every minute may malice be working) but even directly destroy himself as a Prince. In the multi­tude of People is the Kings Honour: but in the want of People is the Destruction of the Prince, Prov. xiv. 28. to destroy therefore his People is, I say, to destroy himself. And certainly, if there be any Prince living, that by his Actions may seem to have been prodigal of his peoples Lives, of all the Princes in Christendom our present Sove­reign never did (nor indeed any of this Line ever) give any reasons to be suspected hereof. Wherefore let us abhor also this degree of Disloyalty. And the same let me say,

Lastly, As to Misreports, which are as frequent as Misconstructions, and but the effects of them; (for still, Out of the abun­dance [Page 32] of the heart the mouth will speak.) This is an Evil expresly forbidden within two ver­ses of my Text. Curse not the King, no not in thy thought, ver. 20. Cursing in the He­brew Idiom usually signifies only speaking evil of: Now, so much as a thought hereto we may not advance; much less may we directly break that Command transumed from the Old Testament into the New, and strictly exemplified by the great A­postles practice. Act. xxiii. Thou shalt not speak evil of the Ruler of thy People, though (as in that case) a Jew, Infidel, or vilest enemy to Christianity. I pray you, let us all be tender of these three lesser instances (as to some they may seem) of Disloyalty, as knowing that they lead to greater, in­deed to direct and the highest Trea­son.

To conclude the whole: Let us first of all keep close each of us to God in a conscien­tious discharge of our Duty to him, trust­ing in him at all times, and pouring out our hearts before him especially whensoe­ver we are amused or afraid (Psal. lvi. 3. What time I am afraid I will trust in God.)

Let us next maintain our Duty to our King, trusting him also, as under God our Safeguard and Defender, conceiving of, interpreting and reporting all his Actions [Page 33] as fairly as we can, which is no more, than both in Loyalty, Justice and Charity we are bound to.

Let us, lastly, be as helpful, sweet and ob­liging to one another, as we would have o­thers to be to our selves: In a word, let us be easie to our selves and others, and by this means as we are at present, so I doubt not but we may continue a blessed Land under Kings the Sons of Nobles and Princes, who eat for Strength, and not for Drunkenness. The continuance of which Mercy God grant to us through Jesus Christ our Lord.

To whom &c.

THE CHRISTIAN Law of the Sword, Both as to its Publick and Private Use. Briefly stated in a Sermon preach'd at Christchurch Cork, &c. Octob. xxiii. 1685.

TO the end we may more perfect­ly comprehend the true occasion and full import of these words, it will be expedient to look back to the [Page 2] forty seventh verse, where we find our Lord betrayed into the hands of an armed Rabble, a great multitude with Swords and Staves, they are there called. After the Traytors Ceremonies and the Solemnities of the Treason were over, St. Peter (the best spirited, or most metall'd, person amongst all our Lords Followers) sensi­ble of his Masters danger, having a Sword, drew it, and strook a Servant of the High Priests, and cut off his Ear (ver. 51.) As to the hurt done to the person wounded, our Lord forthwith miraculously cured that: But as to Good St. Peters Officiousness (for so it is to be named rather than Service) that received no other entertainment but check and chiding, and that in three verses together; of which the Text is the first: Then Jesus said unto him, put up thy Sword into its place: for all they that take the Sword shall perish by the Sword.

Which words need a little Explanation, at least for restraining two phrases, in them; else they will scarce be admitted as uni­versally true. For neither can it be said, that all, who in any sense take the Sword, are thereby guilty of Sin; nor even that all who sinfully take the Sword do, as to the event, actually perish by the Sword.

[As to the Check here given to St. Pe­ter; [Page 3] Put up thy Sword into its place, I may suppose that plain enough: especially see­ing another Evangelist hath reported it, Put up thy Sword into its Sheath. That truly (I mean the Sheath) is the only due place of a Sword, when it is by Peters, or indeed by any Clergy-mans side. Let it, I say, be kept in the Scabbard, if a Cler­gy-man wear it: or rather let him not wear it at all; as mindful that his Coat is a more-legal Defensative to him than his Weapon. Si Clericus Arma ferens ver­beretur, non incidit in Canonem verberans. vid. Gloss. ad Causam 17. Quest. 4. Cap. Quisquis inventus fuerit. But this by the by.]

The Reason given of this Check is much more dubious. For they that take the Sword, &c. and who are they that take the Sword in our Lords sense, or in the way here reprehended? Some have answered, they who take it (ut interficiant) with an intent to kill: but that's too large. For both Magistrate and Civil Officers, as well as Military men, take it with this intent, yet without sin. Gratians answer in the Canon Law is much better, and indeed very full and clear (Ille Gladium accipit, qui nullâ su­periori ac legitimâ Potestate jubente vel con­cedente in sanguinem alicujus armatur. Caus. [Page 4] 23. Qu. 4. Ille Gladium) He takes the Sword, says he, who is armed against the Life of any one, without the Command or Commission of a superiour lawful Power. So that there is a wide difference betwixt accipere Gladium & suscipere, taking the Sword, and re­ceiving or undertaking it. The supreme Magistrate and those commissionated by him receive or undertake the Sword; the Magistrate from God, who has committed it to him by putting him in the place he holds; the Civil Officer and Souldier from the Magistrate, who has commissionated both: But they take the Sword, who of their own rash or headstrong Will usurp it to themselves, be it on pretence soe­ver.

Now such, saith our Saviour, shall perish by the Sword. But is this true? Have all Murderers or Rebels since our Lords saying these words gone out of the world by vio­lent Deaths? Or have not some (most no­torious & principal ones, even in our own memory) dyed in their beds? they have so indeed; but our Lord reports here matter of Law, not of History or Prophesi [...]. As to the Event it is not true, that all w [...] take the Sword perish by the Sword; but as to the Sentence of the Law and demerit of the Sin, there can be nothing of more constant [Page 5] and perpetual truth, than that all such are guilty of Murder, and incur the Penal­ty, or really forfeit Life. The Law in this case seems in a manner of the same date with mankind. For in the Old world, when Cain had murder'd his Brother Abel, It shall come to pass, saith he, that every one that findeth me shall slay me. This Fear, or Expectation of his, could arise from no­thing else, but the demerit of his Sin, by reason of some Law, either innate or even then promulgate for the punishing Murder with death. But upon the reinstating man­kind upon earth, after the Floud, it was immediately in terminis or expresly pub­lisht, Genes. ix. 6. Whoso sheddeth mans Bloud, by Man shall his Bloud be shed. It is by Moses's Law reinforced; Life for Life, Exod. xxi. 23. And for ought I can see, the Execution under it was as quick as the Law; for amongst the Jews, at Common Law, if I may so speak in their State, the person or persons next akin were the Aven­gers of Bloud, and they slew the Murderer as soon as they could meet him; nor do I find any Tryal in case of Murder amongst the Jews till the Cities of Refuge were set up, and even then, in case of manifest and plain Murder, the Tryal did not lie; but as before said, the Avenger of Bloud was to [Page 6] slay the Murderer as soon as he met him. Numb. xxxv. 15, 16, &c. Thus was the Law in this matter before our Lords time; and he in the Text rather gives it an Evangelical Sanction, than mitigates it. So that as to the merit of the Crime, by le­gal Sentence, there can be no Question. And I may truly add, that there is no case wherein God more frequently takes the Forfeiture, or actually executes the Sen­tence of the Law, in this world, than in the case of doing violence to the Lives of others. So far is this our Lords Speech true even as to the Event also, that perhaps not one Murderer in ten dies the death of other men.

The sum then of what our Lord avows to back his Rebuke, or the Check he gave St. Peter is this;

That all those who of their own accord, and without due Authority, attempt or take away the Life of another, are before God guil­ty of Murder, and deserve the Punishment thereof, which is, to fall by the Hand of Justice.

And for the asserting hereof, I do not think it is possible, I will not say to urge, but even to devise any Evidence of such advantageous circumstances, as this in the Text: I will therefore press it more di­stinctly.

It has ever generally been esteemed law­ful to repel Force with Force. Now we see our Lord was here most forcibly seised, and that as was evident in order to suffer all the Violence and Cruelty, which Malice could exercise upon him: yet never be­fore appeared such Innocence and Holiness in humane Nature, as from his very Con­ception and Cradle, had shone in him. Whether the Powers which commanded his Seisure were just or no, we will not now examine; it is most sure, their use of their Power against him was the unjustest of any Instance assignable from the foundation of World. Further, St. Peter was one of our Lords Followers, and, if the Holy Je­sus had had an House, Menials. Add here­to, the Person in whose defence he drew was so extraordinary, that not only his Words, but even his Presence might seem to warrant any act that was capable of being good, if done in his behalf. Last­ly, even himself and his Brethren were in danger from that Rabble, as well as his Master. What a multitude of concurrent circumstances are there here to justifie St. Peters act? Especially, I say, his own de­fence, the defence of his Brethren; nay, the defence of God himself in humane Nature, and all in a most just Cause, against Power [Page 8] more unjustly and more hellishly used, than ever any Power was or could be on the face of the Earth; and both before and in the behalf of a person vested with Power pa­ramount to all under Heaven. Good God! can there be ever Case again like to this, so much, I say, as imagined? Yet for all this Peter is chid for his attempt; Put up thy Sword into its place: for they that take the Sword shall perish with the Sword. No Cause then so just, which can warrant pri­vate men to attempt the Life of others, without Authority from them, to whom God has entrusted the Power of the Sword.

For the further evidencing hereof I will lay down and make good the seven follow­ing Conclusions.

First. God alone originally and sovereignly hath the power of humane Life and Death. Of the truth whereof there needs no other (as indeed there can no more solid) reason be given, than this, that he alone gave, or could give Life at first, and still he alone preserves and continues, or indeed can con­tinue it. Mille viae Mortis; there are a thousand ways of extinguishing Life, but either the Gift of it or the Continuance of it is alone from God. We, poor mortals, are so far from being able to give Life to [Page 9] any thing, that we do not yet know what it is. That we live we know; what Life is we know not: but daily Experience in our Friends and selves teacheth us, the the very preserving it in being, when gi­ven, at least to the term we would, is be­yond the power of Art, Industry, Strength or even that little Omnipotent (as it is too usually looked upon) Money it self. A minute of it cannot be purchased by all the Treasures on or under Earth. Psal. xlix. 8, 9. The Redemption of the Soul, that is, the prorogation of Life (as there the phrase most certainly signifies) is precious, and it ceaseth for ever: None can give to God a Ransome for it, that he should live for ever, and not see Death. Any and all the least retrievals from it are of God alone, and proper to his Almighty Power, Psal. lxviii. 20. He is the God of Salvation even in this kind, and to God the Lord belong the Issues from Death. Now seeing it was he alone, who when he had formed the Body of the first Man, breathed into him the Breath of Life, so that Man became a living Soul, seeing also it is he, whose Visitation preserveth mans Spirit, how can it in Rea­son or Justice be conceived, that any be­sides him should have Sovereign Power of Life and Death? How should any have [Page 10] right to take away, what neither they by themselves, nor by any principal from whence they derive, could ever give? God therefore alone, I say, has original and sovereign power of Life and Death.

2. The derivative Power hereof in every Kingdom or Commonwealth is immediately in the supreme Magistrate alone; that is, God has in every such publick Body commit­ted this Power to none immediately, but to those whom therein he has made Su­preme.

By the Supreme Magistrate in every Na­tion, I mean that Civil Power, whose acts are not under the Controll of another, so that they may be annull'd or Summa [Potestas Civilis] il­la dicitur, cujus actus alterius juri non subsunt, ita ut alterius voluntatis humanae arbitrio irriti possint reddi. Grot. de Jur. Bell. & par. l. 1. c. 3. §. 7. made void at the pleasure of other hu­mane Will. Now such Ma­gistrates the Apostle St. Paul uses to style Powers, Rom. xiii. 1, 2. Tit. iii. 1. And touching such Power, or (which is the same, for he there uses the terms Powers and Ru­lers indifferently for one another) touch­ing such Ruler, he says expresly, ver. 4. He is the Minister of God (Gods Agent or Vicegerent) a Revenger to execute wrath [Page 11] upon every one that doth evil. He is the Mi­nister of God, to wit, He alone immedi­ately within his Territories, and no other but from, by or under him. Nor can there be a greater proof hereof than our Lords Practice here in the Text. Might any person, not being Supreme Magistrate, claim to himself a right to take the Sword, how is it possible that St. Peter should have been reprehensible in drawing his Sword, in the circumstances he did, upon the mixed multitude of Jews and Romans sent by the Authority of the Sanhedrim and Roman Prefect? If there had been any Power of this nature in any private per­son, not derived from the Supreme Pow­er, certainly he could not have wanted it in the present juncture. Yet you hear how solemnly and severely our Lord re­prehends him for the Attempt. And as neer as Christ was to his Death at the time of this Event in the Text, before he departed out of the world, he put another Seal to this truth. When Pilate after our Lords first Arraignment before him, and upon a strict Examination, a little arro­gantly thus expostulates with him, viz. Knowest thou not that I have power to cru­cifie thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, thou couldest have no power [Page 12] over me, except it were given thee from above. John xix. 10, 11. In which words, if we consider who Pilate was, namely, the Roman Governour sent to them by Cesar (the Su­preme) we have a most plain Testimony, that however wicked Supreme Powers may be, or however wickedly they may use their Power, yet is their Power given them by God, and none may invade it, or take upon him to exercise it, but as they shall impart or delegate it. The Power of the Sword therefore, or of Life and Death, is by God committed only to the Supreme Magistrate, that is, as I presume none here will scruple, within these Kingdoms to his Majesty.

Thirdly. From hence it necessarily fol­lows, that No one of himself can be Lord of his own Life. For he is no more to execute the power of the Sword upon himself, than upon another; because he, as well as others, is a Subject. I know the contrary practice, namely dispatching a mans self out of life has been celebrated as an heroically virtuous act by divers Hea­thens, and some great persons amongst them have been admired and commended for it extremely.

But of all Examples, Heathen mens are surely least to be drawn into Rules, for [Page 13] the Authorising of doubtful Actions. [There is a Book also writ by a Christi­an Doctor of our Church, which is rather slandred than truly reported to maintain the Lawfulness of Self-slaughter. But those who have read and understand that Book, know, the Authors design therein was but to move men to more charitable Judgment than usually is put on such, who lay vio­lent hands upon themselves; and that he perswades (amongst others) by this great Argument; that the Act does not ever pre­clude Repentance, but that 'tis possible the very Attrition, which some such persons may be thought to have (in articulo mor­tis) in the very expiring, their Souls may be interpreted by God as a sincere Sor­row. Now his supposing this act pardon­able upon Repentance, admits it to be a Sin; and then being by us known or even but strongly conceived to be so, it will be damnable. For he that doubteth is damned, if he act, because he acteth not of Faith. Rom. xiv. ult.] To be short, the instan­ces we find of it in Scripture are only of wicked and desperate men, and that when they have been rejected by God, forsaken by his Spirit, and an evil Spirit has seised them. Thus as to Saul, long before that desperate act of falling on his own Sword; [Page 14] (1 Sam. xxxi. 5.) The Spirit of God had de­parted from him, and an evil Spirit from the Lord troubled him; chap. xvi. 14. that is, he was in a sort permitted to the Devil to be actuated by him. So as to Judas, after the Sop Satan entred into him, (John xiii. 27) and then he quickly sold and betray­ed his Master, and went and hanged himself. Laqueo Traditor periit. Laqueum talibus de­reliquit, says St. Austin (ad Petilianum.) The Traytor dyed by the Halter, and left the Halter only to such as himself. The like deplorable and dreadful condition, as to his spiritual concerns at least, may we rea­sonably conclude that Devilish Counsellor Achitophel to have been in, when being enraged that Absolon would not take his hellish Advice, he also went home and hanged himself. Besides these three, I re­member no instance in Canonical Scri­pture of any who directly slew themselves. Sampson indeed, as in case of other Mira­cles done by him, so by immediate and extraordinary impulse of the Spirit of God (that is, by Divine Warrantie and Command) pull'd down the Philistines great Hall of Judgment upon them and himself amongst them: But this is only parallel to a great Soldiers going on cer­tain death, to defeat the Enemy, when [Page 15] duly commissioned so to do! and there­fore must not come into account here. There is besides in the Apocryphal Books an instance of one who acted most barba­rous violence on himself; first falling on his own Sword, and then pulling out his very own Bowels, and throwing them a­mongst his Enemies, rather than he would fall into their hand to dye by them: and he is there commended for that inhumane act, which is stiled dying manfully. 2 Mac­cab. xiv. 42, &c. But as that Book, ac­cording to what the Author of it himself in the two last verses confesses in effect, was not written by Divine Inspiration, so were there nothing else in it to prove it Apocryphal, this alone that it commends what is so much against Nature both for the matter and manner of the Action were abundantly sufficient.

But besides, [it is most true, what was well said in another case by an old Bishop of Carlisle in Richard the Seconds time, We are not to live by examples, but by Laws.] The Law of God runs indefinitely, and so (because there is no ground for a Re­striction as to this case) universally, thou shalt not murder; that is, neither another, nor thy self. Which Interpretation must, indeed of necessity, be admitted here; for [Page 16] that our Lord himself makes the Love which we bear to our selves, to be the measure or standard of the Love we owe to others. Thou shalt love thy Neighbour, saith he, as thy self. Which extending to all the Precepts of the second Table, will as to this run thus; thou shalt no more mur­der thy Neighbour than thy self; that is, first of all thou shalt not murder thy self. And though there be not in the Law of God any Precept more particular or more ex­presly prohibitive as to this act, (as nei­ther is there upon very grounds, against several other most unnatural Sins that might be named,) yet is there all Reason in the world against it. For, let us faith­fully examine, Is the Root whence this act proceeds such from whence good Fruit may be expected? Is its true cause at any time good or truly praise-worthy? Was there ever person, yet who laid violent hands upon himself, who did it not either out of Pride, Cowardice, Rashness, or mad Despair? Out of Pride, I say; because either he would not crouch to his betters, or else see his equals become his superiors: or out of Cowardice, as afraid to suffer what his Enemies might put him to; (now in both these cases, is it not more brave to dare to live? or out of Rashness and Madness, or Despair; as impatient of pre­sent [Page 17] evils, and hoping in this Life no bet­ter state. And if out of any of these, is it at all commendable? True Philosophy it self taught better, and for­bad, Injussu Imperatoris, id est Pythagoras teste Cice­ne in Cat. Maj. Dei, de Praesidio & statione vi­tae decedere. ‘The true Chri­stian, like a good Soldier, must not forsake his post, except the great Emperor of the world, the Al­mighty God, by his Law or Providence, command him thence.’ [ L. Cum autem 23. §. Excipi­tur 3. De Aedi­lit. Edict. Malus servus creditus est, saith Ʋlpian, qui aliquid fa­cit, quo magis se rebus huma­nis extrahat, ut puta laque­um torsit, &c. ‘He's adjudged an ill Servant (by the Civil Laws) who but prepares any thing to dispatch himself out of this world; as if he fit an Hal­ter, mix Poison or the like; And much more such is he, who destroys himself by any of these: For such a Servant plainly steals himself thereby out of his Masters Service, and so does every man himself out of Gods, who removes himself hence before God dismisses him.’ Nay the Laws we spoke of go further as to this point affirming, ( L. Liber ho­mo. 13. §. ad L. Aquil. Neminem Dominum membrorum suorum) [Page 18] none to be Lord of his own Limbs; nor is it by them ordinarily permitted to any, without the consent of his Superiors, so much as to cut off a Limb, for the saving the rest of the Body. Which, though pos­sibly in some circumstances too strict, yet shews according to the sense of those Law­givers (who were reputed, and I believe not unjustly, some of the wisest in the world) that there is no one of so private a condition, in whom his Prince and Coun­trey may not so far challenge a right, as to divest him of the sole power of dispo­sing of himself.

I will conclude this point of Self-slaugh­ter (which, by this time, I think I may be bold to stile Self-murder) with a fa­mous passage of St. Austin, transcribed out of him into the body of the Canon Law.

‘This, saith he, we say, this we Hoc dicimus, hoc asseri­mus, hoc modis omnibus ap­probamus, neminem sponta­neam mortem sibi inferre debere, velut fugiendo &c. De Civitat. Dei, l. cap. vide plura causa, 23. Qu. 5. Si non licet. affirm, this we by all possible ways avow, that no one may bring voluntary death upon himself, to escape thereby a­ny temporal pains, least he fall into e­ternal [Page 19] ones: No one may do it by rea­son of anothers sins, lest he thereby be­gin to have most grievous sin of his own; nor because of any of his own past sins, for the curing of which by Re­pentance, he has more need to continue in life. Nor through desire of a better life, which may be hoped for after death; because a better Life after Death, be­longs not to him who is guilty of his own Death.’

This then is our third Conclusion; No one is Lord so much as of his own Life.

Fourthly. Whosoever therefore pretends or exercises a Power over other mens Lives, must either derive that Power from the Su­preme Magistrate to whose Dominions he be­longs, or in case he do not, he becomes by such Exercise or Attempts, either an Ʋsurper, or Murderer, or both. If he pretend to a pub­lick Power herein, not deriving it as afore­said, he is an Ʋsurper, and that, as gene­rally it comes to pass in all Usurpers, is as much as a publick Murderer. If he exer­cise only a private Power, as suppose in righting or avenging himself or any third person against some single injurious man, he hereby becomes a private Murderer: at least before God, in case the Life of him­self, or of any other, be but hazarded by [Page 20] his Act. This is most plain: for having no such Power in himself, and it being by God committed only to the Magistrate, he can never come by it regularly and in Gods way, except he receive it from them, to whom God has committed it. Thus, though the whole remains of Sauls House were in open Hostility against David, and Ishbosheth particularly so keen an Enemy to Davids person that he sought his Life, yet when Baanah and Rechab under pretence to do David a Service, and avenge their Lord the King of Saul and his Seed, go in privately to Ishbosheth's House, and take off his Head to bring it as a present to Da­vid, David pronounces Sentence against them both as Murderers; because though there were a publick Quarrel, yet these two officious wretches, having no Com­mission to act or interpose therein, could not derive any Right or Authority for what they did either from God or Man. 2 Sam iv. 9, &c. Admit Ishbosheth did de­serve Death, yet these men had no right to inflict it on him. Thus as to our fourth Conclusion.

The fifth is, The Magistrate exerciseth this Power of the Sword, either in the Admi­nistration of Civil Justice, or of lawful War. A third way, I think, cannot be assigned: [Page 21] and therefore, as we will more fully touch by and by, whosoever pretend to have received Power of Life and Death from the Magistrate but are neither Civil Offi­cers, or legitimately enrolled in the Mar­tial List, are still by such pretence no bet­ter than Murderers.

First, as to matter of Civil Justice: the persons usually commissioned herein, are either those who dispence the Laws, as Judges, Justices, and the like; or those who execute them, as Sheriffs and Ʋnder-Officers. That both these sorts of men must derive their Power from the King as Supreme, or else cannot act warranta­bly, I think none will question. We have precedents enough in the Jewish Kingdom. In Davids time, 2 Sam. viii. 15, 16, &c. But more explicitly afterwards: 2 Chron. xix. 5, 6. to the end; Jehosophat there set Judges in the Land, some fixed, as it would seem, through all the fenced Cities of Judah City by City: others itiner ant, who went out and returned to Jerusalem. ver. 8. And the Subordination of Officers to the ordinary Judges, as well as of the Judges to the Supreme Powers, we have account of, not only in the Old Testament, but even from our Lord himself in the Go­spels. Matth. v. 25. Luk. xii. 58. Here [Page 22] is the [...], Magistrate (we render it) or Prince, that is he Vid. Grot. in loc. who has Power to appoint the Judge: The [...], or Judge, who is to determine Controversies between Bloud and Bloud, according to Law and Commandment, Statutes and Judgments. And lastly here is the [...], the Exactor, as the word signifies, whose business it was to put or see put the Sentence in Executi­on.

Thus we see how this Civil Power of the Sword was legally and orderly deriv­ed, diffused and managed amongst the Jews. And the same God of Order still governs the world, and both does, and ever will delight in Order.

Secondly. When Civil Justice cannot take place, the Magistrate exercises the Power of the Sword in lawful War. Some­times Offenders are too numerous for civil Punishments, and stand in justification of their Crimes against the Powers which God has ordained. Sometimes not so much a few private persons, as whole Na­tions, at least those who manage Natio­nal concerns, may be injurious to a neigh­bouring People: And in such case Justice cannot be done without War. Now here also the Magistrate bears not the Sword in [Page 23] vain: but he is to raise what armed Force he sees fit, for the righting or defending himself or people. And his people are to be obedient to him, to stand by him with Lives and Estates, and to serve him in the War; And whomsoever he Commissions, not only may, according to the tenor of their Commission (which by the way they are to take care they do not exceed) but ought, to use the Sword; for supposing the War lawful, the Duty of the Subject in this case follows by necessary conse­quence.

Now you'l say, when is a War law­ful?

1. When there is such necessity of it as before suggested; that is, when Publick Justice or Right cannot take place without it; and when the Benefit, which is sought by it, is ample enough to countervail all the visible mischiefs of the War. In which case the Supreme Power is Judge; not the peo­ple, who cannot be supposed competently to understand the publick state of things and circumstances.

2. When the War is made by the Autho­rity that has Power to make it; namely, by the Supreme in every Nation. For we have heard, though the Cause be just, e­very one may not of his own head take [Page 24] the Sword, but a lawful Commission is to be expected.

3. In the general, it is requisite also to a lawful War, that it be publickly proclaim­ed: that is, Justice should be demanded, the obstinate summoned to their Duty, and no proceeding till such Duty or Justice be refused. Somewhat very near this God expresly commanded the people of the Jews, Deuteronom. xx. 10, 11, &c. When thou comest to a City to fight against it, thou shalt proclaim Peace to it—And if it will make no Peace with thee, but will make War against thee, thou shalt besiege it, &c. But if Justice may be had with Peace, Peace certainly is to be prefer­red.

Lastly. Even War it self should be ma­naged lawfully; and Justice, Redress, or Sa­faction only sought, not Revenge. Cruel­ty should be as much forborn, and Mercy as much exercised as publick Safety would admit. These things will be further use­ful to us by and by. In the mean while let this stand as our fifth Conclusion. The Magistrate exercises the Power of the Sword either in Civil Justice or lawful War.

Sixthly. All designed taking away the Life of man, otherwise than in a way of Civil [Page 25] Justice or lawful War (and that also, unless by such only as are respectively commissi­oned by the Magistrate) is Murder; yea the very Attempt of it Murder in the Eye of God. For, out of these two cases, no man can have any thing to do lawfully with the Sword.

You'l say, What should a man do in case of his own ntcessary Defence? I an­swer.

1. I may not directly and ordinarily design to take away anothers Life in my own defence. It may so come to pass that I may be so unhappy as to be necessitated to do that, from whence it may ensue: but, if I be guiltless of Bloud therein, my killing the man was indirectly, by accident and consequent, not by design. The thing I designed, or ought to have designed, was only disabling him, and thereby securing my self: the killing the man in this behalf falls out beyond my intention, in case I am innocent. And even this, the utter dis­abling a man to hurt me, ought not ordi­narily, I say, to be done: for ordinarily a man may defend himself, if he will be prudent, and use all advantages he has, without hazarding his own or his Neigh­bours Life, and perhaps without mu [...]ila­ting eithers person.

But it will be said, This case of Self-Defence comes neither under Civil Justice nor Lawful War. I answer therefore,

2. 'Tis mixt of both. In case I am set upon by Robbers, or by like unreasona­ble men, who attempt my Life, besides that the Law of Nature gives me a War­rant to defend my self against lawless Vio­lence, every honest peaceable Subject may in such circumstances where other Officers cannot be had, be supposed by an impli­cit or virtual Concession or Commission of the Magistrate, to be an Officer to bring such miscreants to Justice; which bringing them to Justice, next to our own Defence, should be a principal part of every mans design in repelling Violence by Violence.

Again, it is fairly enough reducible to lawful War. For I am sup­posed in the present case In reos Maje­statis & pub­licos hostes om­nis homo miles est. Tertullian. Apolog. assaulted with Weapons of War; and the Prince has not opportunity to com­mand Civil Officers or ar­med men to my Relief and Protection. I cannot there­fore but interpret I have his Leave to fight in Defence of the Peace and my self, against the Enemies of the Prince, of his Laws, and Government; for such all Robbers and [Page 27] Hectors are. If there were in the case any opposing of those who were sent by the Magistrate, though by abuse of his Power, as it was in St. Peters case in the Text, I could pretend to no right in my own Defence, but I must submit.

In like manner, if I my self begun the Quarrel, and were the first assailant: for in both these cases I were injurious to the Magistrate and could not reasonably in­terpret any such Favour from him belong­ing to me. But being thus illegally at­tempted, I have Justice, the Law of Na­ture and of my Prince upon my side: I act under and not against the Equity of this sixth Conclusion.

Seventhly and lastly. It being evident by what has been abovesaid, that the Military as well as Civil Sword belongs only to the Supreme Magistrate; therefore the levy­ing or waging War without or against his Commission is (by the Text) Murder, and perhaps upon other grounds more. It is certainly such a taking the Sword, as deserves perishing by the Sword. To speak the same thing in terms more ac­commodate to our Government: For any person or persons to levy or make War within these Kingdoms without the Kings Commission or against those who are com­missionated [Page 28] by him, is, I say, and ever has been, by the Evangelical Law in the Text, Murder: and certainly, by right Reason as well as by other Law, somewhat more than Murder, namely, Rebellion and Trea­son. It is indeed the most dreadful and complicate Murder imaginable. It is first direct and plain Murder of all who fall by our hands. It is further Murder of our selves; of our Souls by Sin, of our Bo­dies by exposing our own Lives. Lastly, it is Murder of all we draw in with us, and that, as of our selves, both as to Soul and Body, without Gods great Mercy. But it is, besides all these, most proper and plain Rebellion; for it is a plain in­vading the Kings Right, and in part, or so far forth, a dethroning him; and there's no doubt, but if it succeed, it ends in total dethroning and murdering him too. After all which said, I may chal­lenge both our old and later, our open­faced and our demure Rebels to make bet­ter of it if they can.

Upon the whole, the sum is, the Kings Majesty is amongst us the Fountain of all Power Civil and Military. Without a Commission from him, express or virtual, as before determined, none may either privately or publickly take the Sword; [Page 29] or if they do, by the Law of God, though they act never so privately, they shall pe­rish by the Sword, they have run into the Guilt, and incur'd the Punishment of Mur­derers.

Now by way of Application

First, for our own Direction in the hum­bling our Souls before God for our Sins: We may see by what has been said the ture Nature, and learn the true Names of ma­ny of those our Sins, in the view of style of which possibly we have been too fa­vourable. All the rash Attempts we have made on our own or others Life, how­ever they have escaped the Sentence of human Laws, are by the Law of God no less than Murder: He that taketh the Sword shall perish by the Sword; that is, as we have heard, deserves it as a Murde­rer. All those Duels and Rencounters, which our Wine, Passions, or other dis­orders, nay which the Importunity of As­sociates, which false-named Friendship and vain Honour, have at any time engaged us in, however we have come off, are be­fore God so many acts of Murder, and we our selves, (toties quoties) Murderers. To which private Sins of our own, if we [Page 30] add those direct and actual Murders which are and have been committed in this Na­tion, not only in Duels (a barbarous Custome yet in all ages, especially these later most impiously frequent) but Mas­sacres and Rebellions (not to speak of o­ther more private methods of Murders on occasion of Robberies and by malicious lying in wait, Poison, Trechery, false Accusations, and some like ways of killing men, under pretence of Justice;) if, I say, we add all these together, good God! under what a weight of Bloudguiltiness does this Nation lye! And what need have, even the inno­cent, to be in daily Prayers to God, that some overflowing Scourge sweep not them away with the guilty! But much more then, what need have all that have been guilty, (and particularly, if any of them, who had their hands in the work of this time was four and forty years, do yet sur­vive, what need have they) to be not only in Prayers but Tears night and day, if so be their unchristian taking, and in­humane using of the Sword, may be for­given unto them. Sure it is, whatsoever some men may flatter themselves and o­thers, Sins of so deep a dy will never be forgiven without profound Repentance.

I have heard there are many persons a­broad [Page 31] in this Kingdom at present, who utterly deny there was any Rebellion of the Irish at the time we assign it: nay, I have read some of their Papers giving an ac­count of those Commotions, as they would be content to have them termed, that style them [Justissimum sanctimúmque Bellum pro Fide.] A most just and holy War for the Faith. I could wish from my heart that all the Cruelties which were then, or have been since acted, were utterly forgot, and I beseech God forgive them, as far as any of the Actors or the Abettors of them are yet in a state remissible. But I cannot consent to, nor endure to let pass un­controlled such miscalling of things, lest men, supposing the things to answer the names, carry all away, in a course of self­deceit and flattery, to their own and others destruction.

First then, admitting, but not grant­ing, that All That was the true Christian Faith, which the Natives generally then professed, Did they not then enjoy it, and had they not more Liberty of it before they broke out into Arms than ever since? This was not then the Rea­son, why they took the Sword. But a­gain, admit this were the Reason, can a­ny Christian man, who considers what [Page 32] he says, maintain this Doctrine; That Subjects of their own heads may take up Arms, to obtain what Form of Religion they please for their Country; that is for them, who like not that Form of Religi­on, as well as for them who like it? This is not only unchristian, but most unrea­sonable to affirm. But,

Secondly, Was not the Sword taken, not only without, but against the Kings Com­mission, against those who were actually in Power, representing him, and commis­sionated by him? It was, I confess, a Calumny cast upon that glorious King and Martyr, Charles the First, that one of the Chieftains of the Rebels had produced His Majesties Commission for taking Arms; and indeed the person we mean did at first pretend so much. But I owe such Justice as well as Veneration to the Memory of that blessed Prince, that I can­not forbear openly to avow, I my self know the men yet living, who can attest they heard that very person, before his E­xecution, confess, the Royal Seal was taken off from an Instrument of another nature, (Letters Patents as I remember for some Lands) and cunningly affixed to that for­ged Commission, His Majesty having been never in the least acquainted with any of [Page 33] their designs. For these two reasons then it could be no lawful War: The Aggres­sors had neither lawful Cause nor lawful Authority; their Design, I say, being with­out and against the Royal Commissi­on. And,

Thirdly, Let me demand, Was it a War lawfully proclaimed? Or was it not most industriously and marvellously concealed, not discovered but in one place, and that but a few hours (comparatively) before it broke out? Instead of thinking of any Hostility, were not the poor English, that suffered, secure in the Friendship and Fa­miliarity of their Neighbours, when un­awares, unarmed, without any Provoca­tion they were set upon, and—I will not say how handled. Is this either a Just or Honourable way of making War?

Lastly. Was it managed in a lawful and Christian sort? Were the Qualities and Condition of the persons, who fell in the first five months, such as constituted them fit Objects for the Sword of a just War? Or were the kinds of Death, by which they dyed, becoming Christians to inflict? Or was the number of the slain proporti­onable to any damages could be pretended [Page 34] to have been sustained by the assailants, even according to the Rules of the most rigo­rous Justice? [One hundred and fifty four thousand Protestants, Men, Women and Children massacred between the Three and twentieth of October and the First of March following, by computation of the Priests themselves that were present, and were directed by the Principals engaged, to take a just computation; besides all af­terwards, when they left off to compute, and the multitudes that fell in the War ensuing.] I will not speak so particularly as I could to all these Points; because my design is only to move to Repentance, not to refresh the memory of the injured: But in a word, here is not any one of those points, which constitute a War just, to be found in this dreadful Insurrection and Massacre. Wherefore as to those, who are so impenitent and remorsless as not to allow it to have been, what it has been pro­ved, a Rebellion; I will only desire of them, because they pretend to be the greatest if not only Kings-men, not to contradict two of their and our most gracious Kings. And here not to speak of several Procla­mations and Statutes made by the Autho­rity of King Charles the First of ever blessed [Page 35] memory, in which this War, as these Gen­tlemen would style it, is expresly called a Rebellion, (with some aggravating Epi­thets) and its Authors Rebels (not to speak I say of these, because some may say a Fa­natick Parliament pen'd them) what will they say of that (now blessed) Kings dy­ing Penitentials? Did he in them utter any thing, but the sincere conceptions of his ho­ly Soul? Let then any one peruse Chap. 12. of his [...], and see if he speaks not there in the express terms we use. Nay, let any one look upon the Statute for the observing of this Day made in the Reign of our late gracious Sovereign Charles the Second, which according to Order was even now read, see what terms are used there. (Now this being the Kings Law, must be taken to be the Kings Lan­guage.) See in the name of God; not to call one another names, but to give our Sins the true names in our Confessions and Penitentials for them before God. But I have dwelt long enough on this; I will only add, that I am my self far from think­ing, and would have others far from be­lieving, that all the Irish Nation are peo­ple of such an Humour, as those whose Cruelty we give God thanks we were de­livered [Page 36] from; or as those others, who will not allow this Days-work to have been Cruelty and Rebellion. There are undoubtedly a multitude of them harm­less people, and many others generous; good-natured, loyal, and brave-spirited persons. And if after all there be any of a contrary strain, whom what hath been said will not convince of their Sin, I only pray the Lord have mercy on them.—To proceed.

Secondly. From the whole Tenour of this Discourse appears, the utter unlaw­fulness of Subjects resisting the Prince or Magistrate, whom God has set over them; yea, though it be in the Abuse of his Power. If in such case our Lord Jesus had resisted, Mankind had never been Redeemed. Yet had it been most easie for him, had it been consistent with the Laws, which he was to enact, to have baffled all the Violence, with which he was, or could be assaulted. For though he had but twelve Apostles even at first, and of them only one that dared to fight for him, yet could not I, saith he, have asked of my Father, and he would have given me more than twelve Legions of An­gels? But this would neither have stood [Page 37] with his Sufferings, nor with the other Ends of his coming, the Doctrine and Example of most holy Life, which he was to leave unto the World. And therefore, as, in the Text, he most ex­presly delivers the Doctrine of Non-resi­stance (Put up thy Sword into its Sheath;) so in the whole Context he practiseth it: Wherefore none can esteem themselves Followers, either of Christs Doctrine, or Example, that is, none can esteem themselves Christians, who shall in the hardest circumstances they can be put; resist their Prince or those that are sent by him.

Thirdly, Upon consideration of what has been said, let us be moved▪ to put a due value both upon our own and others Lives: Let us not, at least, so vainly and trivially expose them, as in every mad and rash fit we are apt to do. I will not speak at present of those ma­nifold indirect ways of Murder, that are in the world: When men do any unlawful or unwarrantable act to themselves or others, by which, though not intenti­onally, the untimely End of either ensue (as drinking themselves or others into mortal Fevours, Frenz [...]s, and a hun­dred [Page 38] like acts, this is Murther before God, though indirect indeed, and on­ly by consequence, yet really and tru­ly such. My Text confines me more to the Sword-work. And give me leave here a little to insist expresly against that abominable and most unreasona­ble, but frequent practice of Duel­ling. I beseech and conjure all men to consider, neither the Old Law of God nor the Gospel make any difference be­twixt Murder, and what our Common Law calls Man-slaughter. To attempt or design taking away the Life of any, though in never so violent and transient a Passion, is by Gods Law and by the Gospel, Murder. And no Murderer shall enter into the Kingdome of Heaven; that is, most surely none, who dyes impeni­tently such. Now 'tis seldome or never that any man dyes in a Duel, but there dyes one singly or doubly a Murderer and impenitent. For, though murder­ed, he dyes a Murderer, at least of him­self, because he had no right to take the Sword; and, according as before­said, by his taking it unwarrantably, has brought his own Death upon him­self.

Further, 'tis of all Duellists general­ly sure enough, neither but would have sped the other; the person slain would as truly have sped his Adversary, as his Adversary has sped him, could he have done it. Wherefore in Will and Inten­tion he that falls is a Murderer of the Surviver, that is, doubly a Murderer; and in both cases too commonly impe­nitent, as dying before he comes to Temper sedate enough for Repentance. So that, I say, for the most part, such persons die doubly Murderers, and impeni­tent; and then, Good God! what is their estate! Consider this in the name of God, all ye that are so wickedly prodigal of your own and others both Bloud and Souls. On what Trifles and ridiculous Puncti­ [...]io's do you generally venture both? For when was there almost any private Duel heard of, the Occasion whereof was such a wrong, as the Law assigns a man Satisfaction for? This is the gene­ral Resolution in these cases —I can have no Satisfaction by Law, therefore I'll fight him. Now let us but attend how unreasonable this Resolution is: It a­mounts plainly to thus much, the Af­front or (pretended) Injury I have re­ceived, [Page 40] is so small, that the Law takes no notice of it: therefore I'll exact the greatest Satisfaction by or against any Law, in any other case, imaginable; for greater cannot be given by Man than the mans own Life. [Nay perhaps, what I design, as a Satisfaction, may be the greatest wrong to my self, the loss of Bo­dy and Soul, I may dye by it in my Sin. Now is this reasonable, such an one has done me a small wrong, (perhaps none, perhaps has only cross'd me in my humour, possibly too only in my Vices;) but admit he has done me a small wrong, what then? Why, then I will compel him to do me a greater, namely, to kill me in his own defence. Nay, therefore will I do my self the greatest, I will venture both Body and Soul in a most unchri­stian and unreasonable Revenge. For being in this case, I take the Sword of my own rash will, without any Warrant from God or Man, nay against the Laws of both, may I not expect actually to perish by the Sword? And because I presumptuously, and with an high hand, rush on such vile Sins, to dye impeni­tently too, and forsaken by Gods Grace; which if I do, how eternally deplorable, [Page 41] but utterly irremediable, is my Con­dition?] Oh! that men would but con­sider these things, and value their own Lives, only as God has valued them! At least, that they would but keep those Laws, which he has made to preserve and secure them! If but this could be obtained, not one in an hundred of those who do, would dye untimely or unnatural Deaths.

Lastly. In case for our Sins God should so punish this Nation, that we should live to see the Sword of War drawn again, let us remember we have been this day taught our Duty in such times. Let us all, that are able or qualified, to take the Sword, take it at his Hands, and in his Defence, who has received the Sword from God; our King's I mean. Let us all stick to the Crown, in its true and legal Descent. This is the only way to keep good Con­science, and the likeliest way to secure or retrieve Peace. For if Pretenders find few or no Abetters, if the great Body of the Nation take the side, which all good men will take; namely, as said, that of the Royal Authority, all Civil Wars must quickly be at an and; and others, I think and hope, we need not fear.

But God keep far from us all Attempts of any War. And I know no better Preser­vative from any, than that all would re­member what our Saviour in teaching St. Peter here, has taught us all, They that take the Sword, shall perish by the Sword.

The good Lord give Peace in our days, and to the God of Peace be all Ho­nour and Glory now and for ever. Amen.