WHether the Ordination of Civil Government be an Article of the Law of Nature, and it should accordingly have been established upon the Multiplication of Man­kind, although they had retained their Pri­mitive Integrity: Or whether i [...] have only a Positive right, and was introduced upon mans Apostasy; is a question about which all are not agreed. The equity of it, to be sure, is founded in the Law natural, and is to [Page 2] be discovered by the light of Nature, being accordingly acknowledged by such as are strangers to Scripture Revelation; and by Christians it is reducible to the first Com­mand in the Second Table of the Decalogue; which is supposed to be a transcript of the Law given to Adam at the first, and writ­ten upon the Tables of his Heart. For tho▪ had man kept his first state, the Moral I­mage Concreated in him, consisting in, Knowledg, Righteousness, and True Holiness, would have maintained him in a perfect un­derstanding of, and Spontaneous Obedience to the whole duty incumbent on him, without the need of civil Laws to direct him, or a civil Sword to lay compulsion on him; and it would have been the true Golden Age, which the Heathen Myth [...]lo­gists are so Fabulous about. yet even then did the All-Wise God Ordain Orders of Supe [...]iority and Inferiority among men, and required an Honour to be paid accordingly. But since the unhappy fall hath Robbed man of that perfection, and filled his heart with perverse and rebellious principles, tending to the Subversion of all Order and the re­ducing of the World to a Chaos; necessity requires, and the Political happiness of a People is concerned in the establishment of Civil Government. The want of it hath [Page 3] ever been pernicious, and at [...]ended on with miserable Circumstances. When there was no Governour in Israel, but every man did what he would, what horrible outrages, were then perpetrated, though Holy and Zealous Phinehas was at that time the High-Priest? and we ourselves have had a Spe­cimen of this in the short Anarchy accom­panying our late Revolution. Gods Wisdom therefore, and his goodness is to be adored in that he hath hid in such a relief for the Children of men, against the mischief which would otherwise devour them; and en­graven an inclination on their hearts, gene­rally to comply with it. But this notwith­standing, mens sins may put a curse into their Blessings, & render their remedy to be not better, possibly worse than the Malady. Government is to prevent and cure the dis­orders that are ap [...] to break forth among the Societies of men; and to promote the civil peace and prospe [...]i [...]y of such a people, as well as to suppress impiety, and nourish Re­ligion. For this end there are to be both Rulers, and such as are to be Ruled by them: and the Weal or Wo of a People mainly depends on the qualifications of those Rulers, by whom we are to be Governed. Hence that Observation, Eccles. 10. 16, 17. Wo to thee, O Land? when thy King is a Child, [Page 4] and thy Princes eat in the morning. 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. There is then much of Gods Kin [...]ness or Displea­sure to be Read in his Providential dispo­sing of this Affai [...]. God saith of them, Hos­ [...] 13. 11. I gave them a King in mine Anger.

We have therefore the Character of a Good RULER Recommended to us in the Word of GOD, and Exemplified in some who deserved that Epithete, not only to let men know when GOD favours them with such a Blessing, that they may re­turn Him His deserved Praise for it; but also, both to Instruct such into whose hands it falls, how to Demean themselves in their Authority, so as to be a Common Good; and to direct those unto whose trust it is Committed, what manner of Persons they ought to introduce, it they would either Please GOD, or Consult their own and their Peoples Welfare.

Such a Character we find is given in our Text; and we may suppose David intended for an Instance of it.

The words are Introduced with greatest solemnity, to give them the deeper impressi­on on the hearts of those that read them, and are concerned in them. They are the words of David, whom God had exalted to the Government over His People Israel, and instructed in his Duty: who was Gods own Anointed by an Extraordinary calling And they are his Last words, Probably not that he ever spake, but some of his dying words, and the l [...]st that he uttered by a Pe­culiar Prophetical Inspiration, & they were not his own words, but such as the Spirit of God dictated to him, and spake by him, whereof he was only the Instrument of their being committed to record. They therfore came out of the Mouth of the God and Rock of Israel: and surely there must be unspeak­able Importance in words Ushered in with so Majestical a Preface. I might here tell you the divers readings, occasioned by the curt expression of the Hebrew Text, but I shall not spend time in it, since the general current of Interpreters runs the same way with our Translation. And I need but Briefly acquaint you that the import or sense of the words is variously understood: some apply them to God himself, and ac­cordingly read the words as a continued description of him: he that Ruleth just men; [Page 6] that ruleth men to fear God. Others apply them to Christ, as t [...]pified by David; and take them to be a Prophesy of his Mediato­rial Kingdom: and then t [...]ey [...]ead it, shall be [...]ust, ruling the fear of God: i. e. Divine Institu­ted worship: pointing to the abrogating of the legal, and bringing in of the Gospel administrations: but then the Type also must be respected, at le [...]st [...]nder a shadow: and so they suppose that Davids Typical Govern­ment is represented. Others take them ac­cording to the sense of our Transla [...]ion, not to be a predi [...]ion but a precept, giving us to understand what manner of persons such are required to be, by the Divine Man­date, and that it was left as a Rule to them who should succeed.

In the words there are two things to be observed.

1 The Subje [...]t spoken of; He that Ruleth over men. He that ruleth] The word Im­ports one that hath any Dominion, right, or authority over either Persons or things; and is here applicable to all those degrees of men that have any ma [...]k of Authority upon them; whether the King as Supream, or any Ministers under him, under what Character or title soever:

Over men] the word [Adam] is fre­quently used to express the Commonalty, or [Page 7] People that are to be Governed: but how­ [...]er, there i [...] or ought to be a vast difference between the Government of Men and Beasts; though some Brutish men may deserve to b [...] treated as Brutes. Man is a Reasonable Creature, and of the same order of being with them that Gove [...]n him, and ought to be managed accordingly.

2. The Duty incumbent on such an one: He must be Just, Ruling in the Fear of God. Some suppose that the double Office of the Civil Magistrate is here pointed at, who is Custos utriusque Tab [...]ae, who is to maintain Justice towards men, & Piety towards God. Others suppose the latter Expression to be Exegetical to the former.

[Just] i. e One that makes Conscience to observe and keep to the Rule of Right [...] ▪ ousness in all his Administrations, he ought not to Exert his Power Illimitedly, and Arbitrarily, but in Conformi [...]y to the Law of God, and the Light of Nature, for Gods Honour, and the prom [...]ing of the common benefit of those over whom he bears Authority. And hence,

[R [...]ling in the Fear of God.] And if he doth not so, he cannot be Just: and by the Fear of God we may either understand an holy Reverential Fear, entertained in his heart, which must Govern him, or else he [Page 8] will never Rule well. For though every good man will not make a good Ruler, yet it is s [...]arce to be believed that a man will Acquit this Office well without Piety. Or else it may be taken Metonimically, for the Rules of Gods Word, and those parti­cular Precepts which direct men how to carry themselves in every Station: which are therefore called the Fear of God, be­cause they serve rightly to Regulate our Fear of him Where it is said [he must] it doth not suppose that all who have such Authority with them, do so Rule: woful experience too frequently proves the contrary: but that it is their Duty, and a matter of great Importance for them to attend it. Hence.

Where shall we find any one Text in Scripture U [...]hered in more remarkably than this? I may not [...]arry here to draw out this Character in its full dimensions, and give it all its Colours; but must only make some brief Glances.

Civil Rulers are all such as are in the ex­ercise of a rightful Authority over others. These do not all of them stand in one equal Rank, nor are alike influential into Govern­ment. There are Supream and Subordinate Powers: and of these also there are some who have a Legislative, others an Executive Power in their Hands; which two, though they may sometimes meet in the same per­sons, yet are in themselves things of a diffe­rent Nature. There are Superiour Magistrates in Provinces, and such as are of Council with them, and Assembly men, the Representatives of the People. There are Judges in Courts, Superious and Inferiour; Justices of the Peace in their several Precincts: and in each of these Orders there Resides a measure of Authority.

Now, that all these may be Just, it is firstly req [...]ired, that they have a Principle of Moral Honesty in them, and Swaying of them: that they Love Righteousness, and Hate Iniquity: that they be Men of Truth, Exod. 18. 21. for every man will act in hi [...] Relation, according to the P [...]inciple that Ruler in him: so that an Unrighteous man will be an Unrighteous Ruler, so far as he hath an Opportunity.

They must also be acquainted with the Rules of Righteousness; they must know [Page 10] what is Just, and what is Unjust, be Abl [...] m [...]n, Exod. 18. 21. For, though men may know and not do, yet without Knowledge the Mind cannot be good. Ignorance is a Foundation [...]or Error, and will likely pro­duce it, when the man applies himself to act: and if he do right at any time, it is but by guess, which is a very poor Commendation.

Again, he must be one that respects the Cause, and not the persons in all [...]is Ad­ministrations, Deut. 1. 17. Ye shall no [...] respect Persons in Judgment, &c. i [...] his Affections Oversway his Judgment at any time, they will be a crooked Liass, that will turn him ou [...] of the way, and that shall be Justice in one mans case, which will not be so in another.

Farthermore, he must be one whom nei­ther Flattery nor B [...]i [...]ery may be able to remove out of his way, Deut. 16. 19▪ Thou shalt not wrest Judgment, thou shalt not Respect Persons, neither take a Gift; and hence he must be one who hates both Ambition and Covetousness, Exod. 18. 21 Hating Covetousness; which word signi [...]ies, a Gree­dy Desire, and is applicable to both the fore cited Vices: for if these Rule him, he will never be a just Ruler.

Finally, he must be one who prefers the publick Benefit above all private and separate Interests whatsoever. Every man in his place, owes himself to the good of the whole; and if he doth not so de­vote himself, he is unjust: and he who either to advance himself, or to be Re­venged on another, will push on Injuri­ous Laws, or pervert the true Intention of such as are in Force, is an unjust man: and he who is under the influence of a Narrow Spirit, will be ready to do so, as occasion offers.

Nor is this Justice to be lookt upon as separate from the Fear of God, but as influenced and maintained by it. He therefore that Ruleth in the Fear of God, is one who Acknowledgeth God to be his Soveraign, and carries in his heart an Awful Fear of him: who owns his Commission to be from him, and ex­pects ere long to be called to give in an Account of his managing of it: which maketh him to study in all things to please him, and to be afraid of doing any thing that will provoke him.

And accordingly, he is a Student in the Law of God, and Meditates in i [...] Day and Night; making it the Rule into which he ultimately resolves all that he [Page 12] doth in his place. We find that in the Old Law, the King was to write a Copy of it with his own hand, and to make use of it at all times: Deut. 17. 18, 19.

If he hath any thing to do in the making of Laws, he will consult a good Conscience, and what may be pleasing of God, and will be far from framing mischief by a Law. And if he be to execu [...]e any Laws of men, he will not dare to give a judgment for such an one as directly Crosseth the Command of God, but counts it ipso facto void, and his Conscience acquitted of his Oath.

Yea the Fear of God will make him not [...]o think himself Lawless; nor dare to bear witness, by Laws and Penalties, against sins in others, which he countenanceth and en­courageth by living in the Practise of himself: But to use utmost endeavours that his own life may be an exemplification of Obedience, and others may lea [...]n by Him, what a Veneration he hath for the Laws that are enacted for the good of Man-kind.

In a word, he is one that will take care to promote Piety as well as Honesty among▪ men; and do his utmost that the true Reli­gion may be countenanced and established▪ [Page 13] and that all Ungodliness, as well as Un­righteousness, may have a due Testimony born against it at all times. So he resolves Psal. 75. 10. all the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.

It then follows that we enquire of what great moment or consequence it is that these should be such: and there is a three­fold respect in which the high importance of it is [...]o be discovered by us.

I. In respect to the Glory of God.

Civil Rulers are Gods Vi [...]egerents here upon earth; hence they are som [...]imes hon­oured with the ti [...]le of Gods, Psal. 82 6. I have said ye are Gods. Government is Gods Ordinance; and those that are Vested with it, however mediately▪ introduced into it, have their right [...]ul autho [...]ity from him, Prov. 8. 15, 16. By me Kings Reign, and Princes Decree Justice▪ By me Princes Rule, and Nobles, even all the Judges of the Earth, and they that are from him, should be for him, and ought to seek the Honour of him who is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords: which they only then do, when they manage their whole Interest and [Page 14] Power with a Design for his Glory; & accordingly manage themselves in all their Ministrations by the Statutes of his King­dom; which none will ever do, but they that are Just, Ruling in the Fear of God. Righ­teousness and Religion flourishing in these, will be as a Torch on an Hill, whose Light and Influence will be vastly extensive: e­very one will be advantaged to see their good works, and to Glorifie God for and in them. Their very Example will have the force of a Law in it, and win many by a powerful Attraction, to the avoiding of sin, and practising of Righteousness. They will be a good Copy, that many will be ambitious to write after: and their faithful Administrations will render them a Terror [...]o Evil Doers, and an Encouragement to them that do well; which will advance the very [...]nd of Government. Whereas the Evil De­portment, and Ill Management of Rulers, who are unjust, and void of the Fear of God, is an open scandal, and of a more pernicious tendency than the wickedness of others; inasmuch as their Example is a discouragement to them that are well disposed, and animates those that are set in their hea [...]ts for iniquity, and they are thereby emboldned to shew their heads▪ and to declare their sin as Sodom: hence [Page 15] that Remark of the Psalmist, Psal. 12. 8. [...]he wicked walk on every side, when the vi­ [...]est men are exalted. Those that would [...]ear their Testimony against Impiety and Debauchery, are frown [...]d on and neg­ [...]ected; and such as would Nourish them are Countenanced: and either good Laws to suppress them are not provided, or they are laid by as things Obsolete, and of no Service: and thus all Abominations come in upon a People as a Flood, and the Name of God is wofully dishonour­ed by this means: and hereupon the last and most excellent end of Government comes to be frustrated, and what is there that we can conceive to be of greater weight than this? if this be lost, the Glo­ry of such a people is gone.

2 In regard to the weal of the People over whom they Rule.

A People are not made for Rulers, But Rulers for a People. It is indeed an Honour which God puts upon some above others▪ when he takes them from among the People, and sets them up to Rule over them, but it is for the Peoples sake, and the Civil felicity of them is the next end of Civil Policy; and the happiness of Ru­lers [Page 16] is bound up with theirs in it. Nor can any wise men in authority think themselves happy in the Misery of their Subjects, to whom they either are or should be as Chil­dren are to to their Fathers: We have the Benefit of Government expressed, 1. Tim. 2: 2. a quiet Life and a peacable, in all Godliness and honesty. and it lies espe [...]ialy with Rulers, under God, to make a People Happy or Miserable. When men can injoy their Liberties and Rights without molestation or oppression; when they can live without fear of being born down by their more Potent Neighbours; when they are secured against Violence, and may be Righted against them that offer them any injury, without fraud; and are encouraged to serve God in their own way, with freedom, and without being imposed upon contrary to the Gospel precepts; now are they an happy People. But this is to be expected from none other but men just and Pious: they that are otherwise, will themselves be oppressour▪ and they that are influenced by them, and dependent on them, will adde to the g [...]i [...] ▪ vance. They that should look after them Will Do it fast enough: Yea every one will [...]surp a License to do so to his Neigh­bour upon an advantage: and such a peo­ple must needs groan under an intollera­ble [Page 17] burden. Besides, it is a great Truth, [...]hat the Mercies and Judgments of God come upon a people, according as their Rulers carry themselves in managing of the Trust which God hath committed to them. Just and Zealous Rulers, are men that Stand in the Gap, and keep off Judg­ments from a sinning people; God sought for one such, Ezek. 22. 30. they turn away wrath, when it hath made an inroad, so it is recorded of Phinehas that he did, Ps 106. 30. and God is wont to bless such a People, as He did Israel and Judah in the days of David, Solomon, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, and Josiah: wheras when these fall into such sins as God is Provoked at, the People are like to Smart for it. There is such an Influence with the Prevarications of these men, that, in the righteous judgment of God, those under them suffer grievously by it. This the Heathen observed in the course of Pro­vidence, and made that remark upon it, Delirant reges, plectuntur Achivi. Thus David numbers the People, and Seventy Thousand of the men of Israel die for it, 2 Sa▪ 24. Yea such may be the influence of the Male-administration of Rulers, though done without malice, and in an heat of misgui­ded zeal for the People of GOD; as Sauls act in Slaying the Gibeonites is recorded to [Page 18] have been▪ 2 Sam 21 2. that the Guilt may [...]y long upon a Land, and break out in Terrible Judgments a great while after, and not be expiated till the sin be openly con­fessed, and the Atonement sought unto.

3 With Reference to Rulers themselves. It is, as we before Observed, a Dignity put upon them, to be preferred to Govern­ment over their Brethren; to have the oversight, not of Beasts, but of Men. But as there is a great Trust devolved on them, so there is an answerable Reckoning which they must be called unto: And however they are setled in Authority by men, yet GOD, who Rules over all, hath put them in only Durante Bene I [...]cito: they are upon their good Behaviour; they are Stewards, and whensoever GOD pleaseth, He will call for a Reckoning, and put them out. GOD s [...]ts up, and he pulls down; and he hath a respect to men [...] Carriages in his dealings with them. Godly and Zealous Phinehas got a Blessing for himself and his Posterity, Numb. 25. 11. &c. Whereas Sa [...]l procured for himself a Rejection, and the laying aside and almost Ex [...]i [...]patlon of his Family. We have this also instanced in Shebna and Eli [...] Is [...]. 22. 15. &c. Yea, what did Jeroboam, what did Ahab, and many others procure [Page 19] for themselves, by their ill Government, but the utter rooting out of their Names▪ and Posterity? The Fourth Generation may Rue that ever they derived from such Pro­genitors. The only sure way for Rulers to build up their own Houses, is to be such in their places as David was, of whom we have that Testimony, Psal. 78. 71, 72. He brought him to Feed Jacob his People, and Israel his Inheritance. So he Fed them according to the Integrity of his heart, [...]ad guided them by the Skilfulness of his hands. And although GOD doth not always peculiarly put a Brand in this World upon Impious and Unjust Rulers, yet there is a Tribunal before which they must stand e're long as other men; only their Account will be so much the more Fearful, and Condemnation more Tremen­dous, by how much they have neglected to take their greater advantages to Glorify GOD, and abused their Power to His Dis­honour, by which they had a fairer oppor­tunity than other men.