THough Men by Nature are equall, yet so it is, that being borne to live in so­ciety, and this society not being able to subsist with­out peace, peace without union, union without or­ [...]r, order without distinction, distinction with­ [...]t dependency, or dependency without autho­rity, [Page 2] yet the same Nature which made men equall (in one respect) hath immediatly commanded them to be subject to one head, and to wave their equality, for the avoyding of confusion. GOD himselfe in the Creation framed not many men at once, who might the sooner have stored the Earth: he made but one Man onely: yea so, as that he made not Man and VVoman together of Earth: but first drew one Man from the Earth, and extracted one VVoman, from that only one Man: to shew, (as St. Chrysostome divinely no­teth) how his intention was to establish Deriva­tion, Dependency, Domination, Principality, yea and Monarchy among men, and to reduce them all under one Root and Superiour, causing them all to proceede from one onely, to the end all might depend upon one. He ever since, hath at all times instituted Temporall Princes and Ru­lers over his chosen people: first Patriarchs, then Dukes, after this Iudges, and in conclusion Kings. His Providenc [...] concluding in Monar­chy, (calling himselfe by the stile and name of King) as the chiefest highest title, and the most perfect forme of Governement. As Nature [Page 3] which proceedeth by degrees in her workes, first maketh Mercury out of the vapours of the Earth, after, out of Mercury, silver, and out of silver, gold, the crowne and perfection of all Mettals: so IESVS CHRIST comming (af [...]er) in­to the VVorld, (albeit he was Lord and King of Kings, of Heaven and Earth) hath (by his word, as example) confirmed temporall policy and au­thority, commanding to give unto Caesar what is due to Caesar: And the Apostle enjoineth us, un­der paine of eternall damnation, to yeeld to our temporall Sovereignes, Obedience, Tribute, Re­spect, Honour, and our Prayers, because hee de­fends our lives and goods from violence: Obe­dience, since he derives his power from GOD: Respect, in that he is his Minister: Honour, by reason he beareth his Image: Prayers, in refle­ction to, and upon, the great neede hee hath of GODS assistance in defending us. Divine and Evangelicall Law obligeth us, to yeeld him all these duties. Obedience, in regard of his autho­rity: Tribute, to defray his great charges: Re­spect, in regard of his Ministry: Honour, for his dignity: Prayers, for his necessities.

ALL the true good of Man, both particular and publicke, depen­deth upon the safe conduct of good Counsells, good Counsells on true wise­dome, and this true wisedome [Page 5] on GOD. Now since (according to Philoso­phicall maximes) one cannot deliver an assured judgement of things, but in considering the refe­rence, relation, and connexion they have with primary causes: God, therefore, who is this first cause, ought to be the primary object, and princi­pall rule of all our judgements and counsells, if we desire to secure our judgements from errour, and our counsells from temerity. For, whatsoe­ver men have, at any time, established of good or just in temporall Laws, either imprinted in them by nature, or deduced by reason, or knowne by inspiration, or manifested by revelation, if it stray from this principle, it is unjust, and what is unjust is violent, and what is violent cannot chalenge the name of Law. For this is the most solid ground of the most eminent commendations wee can give to the truly wise Politician, who, over and above the naturall capacity of spirit, and of humane wisedome acquired by study, and expe­rience of affaires, addeth divine knowledge, which he taketh as the principall guide of all his moti­ons, reasons, maximes, counsells, decrees, and a­ctions. He doth not (as the Lesbian builders) [Page 6] fit his squire or rule to the stone or timber, as they doe who seeke to accommodate God to their ne­cessities and affaires, or justice to the times, but he fitteth and fashioneth the timber and stones to the squire or ruler, affaires and necessities to God, and the times to Iustice. He imitateth good Pi­lots, who holding the hand on the helme, lift up their eyes to heaven, to receive from the Pole and starres the conduct of themselves and ships: for whilest he manageth the steering of Civill affairs, he hath his eyes fixed on eternall verities, and up­on the divine Law, whence he taketh his notions, levy, and directions. And as the High-Priest of the old Law, drew the answers and oracles he de­livered to the people, from a pretious stone hee carried on his breast, which in a marvellous man­ner (as some have delivered) represented unto him Gods pleasure by its colour, sometimes red, at another time blacke; one while pale, then white, then changeable, according to occurrents: In like manner, the true wise man, taketh his coun­sells and resolutions from Gods Law, A Pretious Topace (as David termeth it) not hung at his breast, but fastned to his heatt, Oh God, I have hid thy [Page 7] words in mine heart, &c. Psal. 119.11.127. There doth he finde (in eternall reasons) the true rule of things passed in all seasons, and contemplateth in immoveable verities, the constant IDEA of whatsoever is subject to change and revolution; whence taking his measures, he (after, or there­after) guideth the inconstant by the constant, cau­sing it to slide into stability, the temporall by the eternall, the figure of the world (which passeth) by Gods Truth, which is eternally permanent.