IN the Context we have a Record of the glo­rious Beginning of King Hezekiahs Reign. The wicked Ahaz, this pious Prince his Father, had transgressed sore against the Lord ^*, forsaken His Altars, exhausted the Sacred Treasures of his House, cut in pieces the Holy Vessels, and at last shut up the Doors of it; making himself Altars in every Corner of Jerusalem, and High Places in every City of Judah, to burn Incense unto other gods. [Page 2]This was the forlorn State of the Church upon He­zekiahs Accession to the Throne, who immediate­ly, even^† in the first year of his Reign, in the first Month, op'ned the doors of the House of the Lord and repaired them; Summoning the Priests and the Le­vites to^‖ Sanctify themselves and the House; to humble themselves for the Sins of their Fathers ^(a), to renew their Covenant with the Lord ^(b), and to offer a Sin offering for the Kingdom ^(c), to make Re­conciliation with the Blood upon the Altar, and Attonement for all Israel ^(d). When this was done he proceeded to proclaim a^(e) Solemn Passover, which was joyfully and religiously Solemniz'd: With great Gladness; says the verse before the Text, and the Levites and the Priests praised the LORD day by day, singing with loud Instruments unto the LORD. It was at the Celebration of this Passover, the Joy whereof had been never equal'd since the days of Solomon ^(f), that the Good King among other Ex­pressions of his Devotion gave that which the Text records to his Immortal Honour; And Hezekiah spake Comfortably unto all the Levites, that taught the good Knowledge of the LORD.

We may here remark,

1. The Character of the Persons concerned, He­zekiah and the Levites: On both sides Persons of Distinction, the One in Civil, the Other in Ecclesiasti­cal Office. Hezekiah was no less than the King of Judah, the Supream Civil Ruler: the Levites were [Page 3]Ministers of Religion, after the Priests the Sons of Aaron; the Tribe whom God had separated and consecrated to Himself out of all Isreal to do the Service of the Tabernacle. So that the Civil & Sa­cred Orders are here together, the Prince and the Prophet, the Ruler in the State, and the Holy Teachers in the Church.

2. Let us attend unto the thing related as passing between them, which is the Kings speaking Com­fortably unto the Levites. The like we read in the 35. Chap. 2. v. of Josiah, that he set the Priests in their charges, and Encourag'd them to the Service of the House of the Lord. His Dignity made this Conde­scention in the sight of men, yet was it but strict Piety and Duty to God. He might have requir'd 'em only with the stern Majesty of a King, but as became his Devotion he mildly & kindly bespoke 'em, with a sweet and gracious Affability. His Countenance, his Behaviour, and all his Words did abundantly express his Royal Favour & Grace toward 'em, for their Incouragement in their Holy Ministrations. Nor are we to interpret these Comfortable Expressions of Good Words only, Be ye warmed, be ye filled; without the substantial fruits of a Princes Favour & Care. Much less may we think them like the Empty Respects, flatteries & promises of Modern Courtiers; but all was Cordial, unfeigned & from the Heart: As we may read in the 31. Chap. 21. v. that in every work, which he began in the Ser­vice of the House of God, and in the Law, and in the Commandments to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered. Wherefore,

3. The real Reason of this Princely Grace of the [Page 4] King is subjoyned, and that is, the Levites teaching the good Knowledge of the Lord. The Reason is taken partly from their Office, more especially from their Fidelity therein: And so it answers the Apostolick Precept, Esteeming them very highly in Love for their Works sake. It was one part of the Levites Office to instruct the People in the Knowledge and Fear of God: their work was to teach: which reproves and condemns the Idle Pastor, who Labours not in the Word and Doctrine, to feed their Flocks with Saving Knowledge, And King Hezekiahs regard to the Teaching Levite may well call to Mind the like Royal Examples, which have blazon'd the British Throne, in our late Sovereign Princes, who have re­quir'd their Highest Prelates to be frequent in Preaching the Word Themselves; promoting at the same time such unto their Richest and Noblest Sees, as were desirous of teaching the People the Knowledge of God. In the day when Popery ab­dicated the Throne, Princes like holy Hezekiah ascend­ed it, and they spake Comfortably, and to this day continue the same Gracious Expressions to all the Levites that teach the Good Knowledge of the Lord.

The Good Knowledge: Knowledge is Good: Prov. 19 2. That the Soul be without Knowledge is not Good: But of all Knowledge none is like that which we have of the Blessed GOD from his Word: Of this we may say, as our Saviour said of God, Why call we any other Good? there is none Good save that One, which is of GOD. They that teach this good Knowledge faithfully, are to be held among Men eminently Good, Worthy of double Honour, meriting to be [Page 5]spoken Comfortably unto by their Princes & Rulers: Each of them singly, and all of them together, do merit this treatment and a singular Regard: And accordingly, tho' the Text denies not but that the King might frown upon the Idle and Vicious Levite, if there were any One so; yet is it express on the other hand, that he spake comfortably to all those Levites, that did faithfully teach the Good Know­ledge of the Lord.

The DOCTRINE I wou'd offer from the Words is this.

That it is a very Noble & Pious Disposition in Civil Rulers, and their Incumbent Duty, to Comfort and Encourage the faithful Ministers of CHRIST in their Holy Work.

Before I add a Word more, I have a double Presumption to Apologize for; that I shou'd presume to Preach to, or to plead for, my Superiors of both Orders. I am very sensible that a Concio ad Ma­gistratum calls for Learning, Gravity & Authority much beyond my Years, and that the Noble Sub­ject (Pro Clere) does equally require the same. Yet I hope it will not be unacceptable at this time to Either Order, if I essay with all possible Defe­rence and Humility, to assert the Honours which it has pleased God to entitle his Ministry unto, & which it will be the Care and Pleasure of pious Rulers al­ways to pay unto them.

Wherefore I beg the leave of this Honourable Au­dience to persue a little these two Enquiries.

1. How Civil Rulers are to endeavour the Com­fort [Page 6]and Encouragement of the Gospel Ministry?

2. Why they shou'd do it, or what are their Ob­ligations hereunto. The Enquiries are both Co­pious, and being to get hastily thro' them I must be brief and general.

I. How, or which way, are Civil Rulers to endea­vour the Comfort of the Ministry? or, What is the Comfort which the Ministry craves or challenges of them by the Laws of the Gospel? What is it that will comfort the faithful Dispensers of the Word, and what are the Regards which for this end the Civil Ruler owes unto the Ecclesiastical Order?

To apprehend this aright, we must consider our Rulers in their Legislative Power or Trust, and in their Executive, and finally in a Personal and more Private Character, as Christians of a Superior Degree only.

I. In their Legislative power and trust, it belongs to the Civil Ruler to speak comfortably to the Mi­nistry, by Enacting Good LAWS for the Honour and Establishment of Religion within their Government. This lies near the heart of every good man; and one of the greatest Comforts he can have that wishes well to the Religion of a Place, aiming at the Glory of God and the Salvation of Souls, is to see a Bulwark of good Laws for the defence & pro­pagation of the Truths and Laws of God. These Laws must needs respect,

• 1. The Publick Worship of God, both Natural and Instituted.
• 2. The Peace, Order, Discipline and Government of the Church.
• 3. The Honourable Maintenance of the Ministry. And 4. A Peoples Morals.

[Page 7] 1. The Comfort of the Ministry depends very much on good and right Laws respecting the Publick Worship of God, and that both Natural & Instituted: that the Holy Ordinances of God be duly administred and attended according to His Appointment in His Word. Indeed Magistrates may not frame and invent at their pleasure Modes and Exercises of Divine Worship for their People: GOD by whom They rule has given Them & Us a Law how He will be Worship'd: to alter this or to add unto it were to offer Strange Fire for hallowed Incense and with the face of Homage manifestly to kick at his Soverain Authority, despising his most per­fect Word. Nor may the Ruler invade the Priest, Office to Officiate in their Holy Ministrations, unto which they are Ordain'd. It was unto Uzziahs destruction that his heart was lifted up to transgress against the Lord his God, when he went into the Temple of the Lord to burn Intense upon the Altar of Incense: 2 Chron. xxvi. 16,—21. Nor was it Dis­loyalty or Rebellion in Azariah the Priest and his valiant Brethren when they withstood him, and said unto him, It pertaineth not unto thee Uzziah to burn Incense unto the Lord, but to the Priests the Sons of Aa­ron, that are consecrated to burn Incense: Go out of the Sanctuary, for thou hast trespassed, neither shall it be for thine Honour from the Lord God: And when he des­pis'd the faithful admonition, being Inrag'd at it, The Lord smote him beside the. Altar, with the Censer in his hand; the Leprosie rose up in his forehead, and he hasted to leave the Sacred place he had invaded, being a Leper to the day of his death, and so cut off from the House of the Lord, whither he had gone [Page 8]so presumptuously. Now tho' this Instance alone be eno' to warn the Highest Persons unto all possible caution, not to trespass upon the Inclosures of Gods Ministry, consecrated to Divine Service; Neverthe­less we must by no means think that the Magistrate has nothing to do, or to concern himself ex Officio, about the Institutions of God. The Civil Powers may Enact the very Laws of God about his own Wor­ship under temporal Penalties, preserving an Indul­gence unto tender Consciences: They may take Laws out of the Word of God and make 'em their Own, Commanding People to regard the holy Or­dinances of God, to get & uphold his Worship among them, to Sanctifie the Sabbath, to reverence Gods Sanctuary, to build themselves decent places for the Publick Worship, and frequent them in the stated seasons thereof with Solemnity.

It belongs also to the Rulers Province, to pro­vide that Ministers do their Duty in the Publick Ad­ministrations that pertain unto their Office; that neither by gross Neglects, Unreasonable Absence from their Charge, Non-residence, open Idleness, or any Scandalous course of Vice, they do not defeat the glo­rious Design of their Ministry: in all which Cases the Civil Cognizance is merited, and needed to rebuke and remedy the Evil; and Rulers ought to provide accordingly in subordination to the Laws of Christ, provided in that case already. So that if the Sons of Eli will make themselves Vile, to cause men to abhor the Offering of the Lord, it is duty of the Judge in Israel, tho' he be their Father, to pro­vide them not only a light Rebuke, but a severe Censure, Degradation and Punishment.

[Page 9] In all such Cases both Ministers and People owe Obedience and Submission to the Civil Ruler, as in our Context the Priests and the Levites obeyed the Summons of the King, and did the thing which he requir'd in the cause of God and agreeable to his Will: xxix. Chap. 15. v. And they gathered their Brethren, and Sanctify'd themselves, and came according to the Commandment of the King, by the Word of the Lord. Being that the Kings Commandment was according to and grounded on the Law of God, they conscientiously obey'd it, in deference both to God and the King.

Nor are the Holy Sons of Levi and Aaron duly comforted in the work of the Lord, in their Serving at the Tabernacle and Temple, unless the Civil Power do thus engage on their side. For as the World goes, 'tis necessary for the Powers' on Earth to enforce that under present bodily Pains & tem­poral Penalties, which the Great GOD has more awfully commanded on pain of Eternal Damnation: that bold Sinners who have no regard to their Souls may be restrain'd however by what they have for their Bodies, their Name, Estates and outward Interests; and that men who will not Fear God so as to be religious in secret and in heart, may how­ever for Fear of Man at least not be Audacious and Insolent, blaspheme the Name of God, nor spit at his Altars; which many profane Wretches wou'd do, if the Civil Sword did not defend and do Ho­nour to the Worship of God.

2. The Comfort of the Ministry depends very much on Good and Right Laws with respect to the Peace & Order, Discipline and Government of the [Page 10]Churches. It is true, that the Magistracy are not to assume to themselves the Administration of Church Censures, but to preserve inviolate unto the Ministry the Power of Judgment, which Christ has lodg'd in them: Yet is it not to be tho't that the Magistrate must sit by Unconcerned, and quietly see things run to Confusion, and the wounds of Churches to Gan­green and grow Incurable: Or if the State of the Church be visibly Consumptive, and it be sensibly pining and languishing away, the Pastors not eno' laying it to heart, and the People thro' Inadvertence willing to have it so; Is it not Laudable & a Duty for Rulers in such a case to take Care? to issue out their Authoritative Orders, to stir up Ministers and People to their Respective Duties? for the Revival of dying Church Order, and the Spirit of true De­votion, with practical Godliness, which depend so much thereupon.

As therefore it is the worthy Care of Rulers to Admonish the Churches of any gross defects and neg­ligences, hazards and dangers, maladies and distempers, which they discern upon us at any time in Spiritual Respects; So also their Wisdom and Piety wou'd be greatly display'd at this day, and they wou'd do much to comfort the faithful Ministers of Christ thro' the Land, if they cou'd any way provide to heal the long Unsettlement of bereaved Churches, together with the criminal shame­ful Quarrels that occasion it; to give Authority al­so to Ecclesiastical Councils in their Determinations; and to make People know that there must and shall be some End to their Strifes & Discords, the Parents of every Confusion & Evil Work, the bane of all Re­ligion.

[Page 11] It belongs also to the Civil Powers to call Synods upon Occasion for these Ends, and then to give their Sanction to their just and approved Resolutions. Nor are the hands of Aaron strong, but when Mo­ses, his Brother and his Lord, stands by and assists him.

3. The Comfort of the Ministry depends very much on Good and sufficient Laws for the Honou­rable Support and Maintenance thereof, and that in a Wise and Right Manner. So Hezekiah comforted the Levites in the Text, as we read in the xxxi. Chap. 4. v. Moreover, he commanded the People that dwelt at Jerusalem, to give the portion of the Priests and the Le­vites, that they might be Encouraged in the Work of the Lord. The Wise King knew that they cou'd not chearfully, diligently, wholly devote themselves to the Study of the Law, the Instruction of the People, and the Ministrations of the Sanctuary, without that Honourable Subsistence, which God had provided for them.

I need not say how Noble the Provision was that God made for the Tribe of Levi, nor how plain the Gospel Institution is, That they that Preach the Gospel shou'd live of the Gospel. So hath the Lord Ordained, even as we know that under the Law, They who did Minister about Holy things, lived of the things of the Temple, and they that waited at the Altar were Partakers with the Altar. 1 Cor. ix. 13, 14. Which Institution has its foundation in strict E­quity & Righteousness v. 7. For who goeth a War­fare at his own Charges? who planteth a Vineyard and eateth not of the Fruit thereof? or who feedeth a Flock and eateth not of the Milk of the Flock? Nay, the [Page 12]Advantage of the Exchange is so much on the side of the People, that after all they do by no means pay the Labours of their Faithful Pastors, nor re­compence for the Profits received by those Labours if it be not their own fault: v. ii. If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? No truly, 'tis a small mat­ter for People to subsist them in a few outward things, whom God has separated wholly from worldly things, to Serve them in their Spiritual and Soul concerns.

Now I need not labour much to prove to You, that there can be no great Comfort in the Ministerial Work without a decent outward Subsistence: Un­less the Angels of the Churches were already [...], as the Angels of God above, as the Saints will be in the Resurrection State; when as they shall no more Marry, so neither shall they need Food or Raiment for the Body. But while this Trea­sure (the Gospel Ministration) is in Earthen Vessels; and Spirits in Flesh, of as many necessities and bodily wants as their Nei'bours, are imploy'd in these holy Services for your Souls, there must be a laudable Provision for their Bodies and Families, or they must be left desolate and Comfortless. There can be no Comfort to be sure in Pinching and Starving Circumstances, in Rags and Naked­ness, in the Cryes of hungry Children, or in the prospect of meaness and want for their Families after them. If it was Infamous in Jeroboam to make Priests of the Lowest of the People, 'twill be no less in us to degrade the Sacred Order to the lowest, by one Method or another, whether by Maintaining [Page 13]the Ministry so Meanly that none but the Lowest will come into it; or if they do, that according to humane prospect they shall be sure to have their Families among the least in Israel. [Which were as if all the Sons of Aaron were for ever to inherit the Curse of Eli's House, crouching for a piece of Silver and a Morsel of Bread, and saying, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the Priests Offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.]

Had I time I should here have added, that the Ministry alone is a sufficient Care and Labour for the whole Life: that our whole Time & Strength is too little for it to discharge it faithfully: that we need no Avocations or hindrances from the wants of Fa­milies, or from Worldly Secular Businesses: That the Office is Generous & Noble, as well as the Work Great and Heavy: that the Minds imploy'd in this Sublime and Holy Service shou'd be suppos'd Supe­rior, and improved by a Learned Education: that their Rank and Place among men has always been next to the Civil Magistrate; and this not only by the Custom of all Nations, but by the Grant of God Himself, and therefore it is not of meer Cour­tesy, but of Right and Natural Decency: that where there has been any Hierarchy, whether of Gods Ordination among the Jews, or of Humane Establishment (we say) among Christian Nations, not to name the Orders of old in the Idolatrous Heathen World; I say, where-ever any Hierarchy has been set up in the World, distinguishing the Clergy into divers Orders & Degrees, the Superiour Order has been ever grac'd in the first Rank of No­bles: I might add, That the Ministerial Work is [Page 14]not to be levell'd wich Mechanic Labours, Mer­chandize, nor other more Liberal Imployments nei­ther; the Practice of Physick, or the teaching of Phylosophy, not excepted: [To acknowledge which is but a meet Respect to the Great God, in whose immediate Service we are; as also 'tis but a decent respect to our own Souls, for the Improv­ment of which in Spiritual Knowledge, their Per­fection, Conversion & Salvation, we are imployed; And surely, to teach the Good Knowledge of the Lord is of more Excellency & Use, than to be Professors of any Secular Science, ignorant of which we may live and dy and yet be Saved.] Now if the Of­fice be so Superior, the Maintenance shou'd be also Honourable, or it is very Indecent and Un­sightly.

I must needs add one thing more here: That the want of a Comfortable Support for the Mini­sters of the Gospel is a great Wrong to Souls. It is so very often to the Souls of your Ministers: they can't be so faithful as they desire to be. I have heard some of our Reverend Brethrer complain of this with great Affliction, "That they have not Time to Study as they wou'd, "That they can't make the Pastoral Visits which they gladly wou'd to the Families under their Watch; because their own Families being Numerous, and their income Small, they must spend a great part of the Week in Secular Affairs. Thus they are bereaved of the Comfort of the Sense of having done their Duty to your Immortal Souls. Again, It is a great In­jury to the Souls of People, the precious Souls of your Families & Children. These suffer in Spiritual [Page 15]respects, by Ministers suffering in temporal things: They are not so fed and watch'd over as else they might be: And so in pinching their faithful Pastors, People do eventually Starve the Souls of their Households.

To Conclude, I know not how the Publick can be Innocent, if Lawgiver; do not make a just Provi­sion for the Maintenance of the Ministry: In a great part they must expect to answer to God for the Neglect there is in the Land as to the Care of Souls; and if Religion and Learning be lost, and our Souls after them, it will be in a great measure owing to this, That we have not hearts big eno' to part with a few Carnal things to Save all.

4. And Lastly, The Comfort of Gods Faithful Ministers does very much depend on the Provision of a sufficient Body of Laws, with respect unto Peoples Morals. This is a very wide and extensive Head; Namely, the Sobriety & Righteousness, Purity and Blamelessness of People in Word and Action, in their whole Conduct and Behaviour, in every Re­lation and Circumstance of Life. The Religion of a People appears in Practice, in Obedience to the Moral Law. If this is religiously observed, if men lead Sober, Righteous and Godly Lives, then have Ministers the Consolation of their Labours, then have they not spent their Strength for nought and in vain; but they behold the fruits of the Grace of God in their Hearers hearts, shown out of a Good Conversation: Then is the Gospel of God our Savi­our visibly Adorned, and your Apostolick Pastors have no greater Joy.

But if the Laws of a Land do not provide against all Scandalous Immoralities, Rulers do not speak [Page 16] Comfortably to any that have the least Respect for Religion: they are grieved, scandaliz'd, offended at bold and lawless Vice defying our Holy Reli­gion: their righteous Souls are vexed at the filthy unrestrained Conversation of the Wicked. 'Tis true, God will set a Mark on them that weep in Secret for the open Sins of others, but by Man they are not Comforted. How cou'd our Faces and Hearts be otherwise than Sad, if there were not Good Laws for the Suppressing and Punishing all kinds of open Profaness, or seeret Frauds and disho­nesty, Impurities and Lusts. Our Comfort greatly depends on the Laws in force, and from time to time Enacted, against Blasphemy, Cursing and Swearing, Sabbath-breaking, Undutifulness of Children and Servants, Seditions, Murders, Perni­cious Strifes, Uncleanness, Drunkenness, Thefts, Abuses of our Nei'bours Good Name, and what­ever Moral Turpitude there is to pollute a Land and corrupt Good Manners.

And next to the good Laws in force among us against such Scandals, we have no greater Comfort than the Royal PROCLAMATIONS that have been issued out from the Throne, For the Encourage­ment of Piety and Vertue, and for the Preventing and Punishing of Vice, Profaness and Immorality. In this the Magistrate is the Minister of God unto us for Good, a Terror to the Evil, and a Praise to the Good. Rom. xiii. 3, 4. He is by Office, as has been often said, Custos utriusque Tabuloe, the Defender of both the Tables of the Law, as well as of the Faith. He succeeds in Moses Place, who having received the Law from God, then saw to it that the People kept it.

[Page 17] I have done with the first thing wherein Civil Rulers are to endeavour the Comfort of those that teach the good Knowledge of the LORD, Namely, In their Legislative power and trust, by Enacting good Laws for the Honour and Establishment of Religion within their Government. I will be more brief in the other Instances.

II. It belongs to Rulers, and all Publick Officers, Superior or Inferior, in their Executive trust & power, to Comfort all those that stand up for GOD or are more immediately related to his Service, by the Faithful Execution of those good Laws, that relate to Religion, the Honour of God, the Observation of the Divine Law, and the Prosperity of the Church of Christ. We have Good Laws against Immorali­ties and Contempt of the Divine Ordinances; herein the Legislative Power have endeavour'd our Comfort: It now and always lies with the Honou­rable Judges, the Worshipful Gentlemen in Commission for the Peace, with Inferior Officers in every degree of Power or Trust, to the faithful discharge of which Respective Trusts they are Sworn and under the Oath of God, as Revengers to execute Wrath upon him that doth Evil: without which the Magistrate does at last hold the Sword in vain, and the Penalties threatned in the Law prove an Empty Noise and a Lye. Laws not duly Executed are but Powder without Ball; there's a terrible blaze and sound but no Execution done: the Wicked have no Terror from them, nor the Good any Comfort.

More especially the Ministry wearing no Secu­lar Arms for their own. Defence, they are more [Page 18]Peculiarly the Care of the Civil Sword, to protect them from all Open Wrongs and Affronts; the wicked in the World being ready to trample them in the dust, and with-hold their Legal Rights: And the more backward they are to Assert 'em, and fill their Superiors Ears with Complaints; of Them especially to whose Service in Spiritual Respects they are devoted; in this case the Magistrate shou'd not always wait for a formal Complaint, but find a Tongue for the Dumb and an Arm for the Meek, be Eyes to the Blind, and Feet to the Lame, and Search out the Cause Himself. For there is a Modesty in Superior Minds which restrains them from Com­plaints and causes 'em rather to suffer wrong: And there is a Regard to Mens Souls in many of Gods Servants so Superior to their Care about their own Temporal Concerns, Seeking not theirs but them, that they had rather Silently Suffer at home than their holy Ministrations shou'd suffer with unrea­sonable men abroad.

III. And Lastly, Much is Incumbent on Civil Rulers for the Comfort and Encouragement of the Ministry, in a Personal and more Private Character, as Christians of a Superiour Degree only. And under this Consideration of Themselves, they shou'd hold Themselves obliged to comfort the faithful Teach­ers of the good Knowledge of the Lord.

1. In taking care to give a Vertuous and Religious Example in their own Conversation, both Private and Publick. Authority and Dignity carries so much of the Stamp and Image of God upon it, that tho' it receives its highest Grace and Lustre from Re­ligion, [Page 19]yet to the Eyes of Inferiors it reflects back also a great honour on Religion, and the Doctrine of God our Saviour is Eminently Adorn'd thereby. 'Tis a Comfortable thing to see Those, of whom it is said, Ye are gods, paying the profoundest Ve­neration and Homage to the Great GOD by whom they Rule; and they that give Laws to others paying Themselves the most careful Obedience to the Divine Law.

That when we come into your Presence, your Wife and Grave, your Pure and Devout Discourse may be long remembred with Reverence.

That the Vertue and Order of your Families, may like that of Joshua and David show the whole Land what the Fear of the Lord is.

That the Religious Sanctification of the Sabbath by your Housholds, and your constant reverent Attendance on the Private and Publick Worship of God, may visible testify your respect and honour to Gods holy Institutions.

For which End I cannot but wish, and with the lowest Deference wou'd earnestly commend it to the Consciences of Some whom I greatly honour in their Civil Character, That all our Rulers might stand compleat in their Christian Profession: And while they fill our Conspicuous Seats at the Council Board, in Courts of Justice, and in the Assemblies for Wor­ship, their Place might not be left empty at the Table of Christ: An Example that must needs hurt our Churches, and the Souls of the Vulgar, from Persons of your Knowledge, Gravity, and believed Piety.

Magistrates shou'd be among the first at the Temple, and there and every where their Lights [Page 20]shou'd Shine before Men; Not in the vain Spirit of John, who sought Fame from a false Blaze, Come, see my Zeal for the Lord: [Tho' it must be said, that it is as Impolitick as it is profane for Rulers to live in Irreligious Courses: And yet a meer Mask of Religion is a Mean Disguize, as well as horrid; to seek to establish our Power by abusing & affront­ing the Glorious and Fearful Name of God.]

2. It beseems the Christian Magistrate to speak Comfortably to the faithful Ministers of Christ, by giving open Respects and Honours to their Persons, treating one always with distinction before the People. As Fathers, says the Apostie; as Children, tho't the good King Hezekiah, Chap. xxix. v. 11. My Sons, said he to the Levites, My Sons, be not negligent. And it is Remarkable with what Affability, Friend­ship and Love the Pious Kings of Israel were wont to treat the Prophets of the Lord.

A pious Ruler will never be a Stranger to his faithful Pastor, if it be not his own Will and Fault, which is not to be supposed neither. [Nor is it the single Comfort of a Venerable Superiors Res­pects, that we have in the Friendship of a Pious Ruler; but as King Saul himself once askt of the Prophet, it honours us before the People, and most effectually teaches them to venerate their Teachers.

Certainly our Gracious QUEEN has taught all in Subordinate Place their true Honour and Duty, promising in Her Proclamation against Vice, a Distinction in Her Royal Favour to Persons of Piety and Vertue. No Earthly Prince can go by a more per­fect Rule, than this by which GOD governs His own Regards, which is His Own Moral Image and Grace.

[Page 21] 3. It is expected of the Civil Ruler to speak Comfortably to those that teach the good Know­ledge of God, by excelling others in a chearful Readi­ness to Support the Divine Worship with their outward Estate. 'Tis supposed, that generally they are distinguish'd by Providence with Riches as well as Honour and Power; and if so, they are Poor Com­forts at last to their Respective Churches if they do not lead in a Generous Contributing to the Mainte­nance of the Ministry. If a rich Magistrate is seen to Pinch, what will not others do, who are of Estate as mean as their Quality? When the Building of the Temple was to be provided for, King David first exhausted his own Royal Treasures, and then the People gave largely. This also was one way wherein Hezekiah spake so comfortably to the Levites and the Priesthood, v. 24. He gave a Thousand Bullocks and Seven Thousand Sheep, and the Princes gave a Thousand Bullocks, and Ten Thousand Sheep, and a great number of Priests Sanctify'd them­selves: And in the xxxi. Chap. 3. v. we read fur­ther, that Hezekiah appointed the Kings portion of his Substance for the Burnt-Offering.

God has honour'd Rulers above others, and He expects that they do more than others to honour Him. Where He gives Riches in Abundance, He looks that Men do proportionably cast into his Treasury out of their Abundance; or else let the Poor Widow throw in her Single Mite, and Heaven will account that she has done more than all the Great and the Rich.

[Page 22] Having urg'd You so far, I will not Suppress two Tho'ts more, wherein the Rich and Honourable may greatly comfort the Churches & Ministry of Christ. The One is, By devoting a Select Son to the Service of the Temple, & leaving him an Inheritance equal with his Brethren. The Other is, That you wou'd employ some suitable parts of your Estates as a Tri­bute to God and his Ministry in Founding, Endowing, Establishing and Securing Schools for Literature and Re­ligion: More especially, our fair and lov'd Mother the COLLEDGE, which Happy Foundation God has signally bless'd and made the Great Glory of the Land; filling every Chair of Honour almost with her Worthy Sons. The flourishing of that Society is the Great Joy and Comfort of the Ministry and so is the present happy Settlement thereof, as was abun­dantly testify'd to the Honourable COURT in the united Addresses of the Ministers the last year. And whatever it shall please God to direct the GREAT and GENERAL COURT further to do, in their present Session or hereafter, for the Security of that Body and the more Honourable Support of the Reverend President, it will greatly comfort the hearts of the present Ministry: So great a part of Whom must always own Him, with great Reverence and Love, a Wise and Careful Eather to them, in their happy Education under his Immediate Inspection and In­stitution.

I have done with the First Enquiry, and it may be, almost presum'd too far on your Candour and Indulgence in some particulars; wherein at last I wou'd by no means be understood to pretend to direct my Superiours.

[Page 23] I will not enter on the Second thing propound­ed, left I trespass Egregiously on your Patience, Namely.

II. To give the Reasons of the Doctrine, or to prove it to be the Rulers Incumbent Duty, to Comfort and Encourage the faithful Ministers of Christ in their holy Work. The Word of God requires this of Magistrates, [censures the wont of it, and brands those Reigns wherein Religion was not cared for, perverted, depraved, and the Prophets ill treated.] Ministers need this Comfort and Help in their hard & difficult Work, [to oppose mens Lusts, & bear up under the double measure of Trouble that falls to their share.] The Efficacy and. Success of the Ministerial Labours does under God very much depend on the Rulers Countenance and Influence. The Nature of Magistracy speaks it to be the Rulers incumbent Duty to encourage the Ministry of God, being the Ordinance of God, to rule and judge for Him, and accountable to Him, the Supream Go­vernour and Judge of all the Earth. Not to add, that a Land has no more faithful Friends and richer Blessings in it, than the faithful Ministers of Christ: Nor the Magistracy any surer Support than the En­couragement of Religion; their Power being from God, the Reverence of Whom once failing the foundation of Government is ras'd.

But I hasten to some brief & particular Appli­cation of the Doctrine And the USE may be in a threefold Address.

• 1. To our Honoured Magistrates.
• 2. To Ministers.
• 3. To the People.

[Page 24] 1. It addresses to our, Civil Rulers, that Religion may always have this Countenance and Comfort from them.

We cannot but own the Piety of our Rulers in their open and avowed Respects unto the Churches of Christ, and the holy Pastors of them. We give thanks to God, for the Great Comfort we have in the Devotion and bright Vertue of many of our Magistrates; for the Good Laws we have in defence of the Faith and Worship of Christ; and against Scandalous Immoralities; and that the Seats of Judgment are fill'd with Men of known Integrity and Religious Zeal.

We have Great Consolation in His EXCELLEN­CIES Noble Example; His Wise, Grave, and Occa­sionally Religious Conversation; the visible Order and Devotion of his House, and his tender Father­ly Carriage, toward the Ministers of Christ; Of the Body of Whom I have this most sure and certain Knowledge, that they are greatly comforted in Him.

In the Times of the Romish Superstition, I am told, it was the first Proposal or Enquiry at the opening of the Parliament, What more is to be done for the Holy Mother the Church? Far be it, that in our happyer Days of Reform'd Religion, the Ministry and Pure Worship of God shou'd have less of the Le­gislators Care. Suffer me then to pray that the Comfort of these Churches may always lye near Your hearts, and have some Consideration with You in every Session.

[Page 25] More especially, the more Honourable Support of Ministers thro' the Land wou'd be one most worthy Care of the Assembly. I speak not from Want, or for any Self-Interest, being by the good Providence of God, and the Care of my Beloved Church, equal in Salary with any of my Brethren: But I speak from a tender feeling of the Slender Circumstances of Many (my Betters) in other Places; and from an easy fore-sight of the Detri­ment that must come unto our Churches, if there be not an Inlargement in the Maintenance of the Ministry in most Places. For as this is in the People a too palpable Evidence of a Lean Profes­sion, I mean of their not profiting by the Word; So is it the ready way to make lean and Poor Preaching, by Starving mens Parts & Oppressing their Graces.

The Poverty of the Land is no Objection against doing more than is done for the Ministry. People might do much more and not feel it. Nay it were the way to grow Rich, if we did our Duty in Supporting Honourably the Worship of God. For as it is the Blessing of God that maketh rich, so He has told his People that their defrauding Him is their own Impoverishment: Mal. iii. 8, 9, 10. Ye have robbed ME, — in Tithes and Offerings: Ye are cursed with a curse. — Bring ye all the Tithes into the Store-house, that there may be meat in my House, and prove me now here-with, saith the LORD of Hosts, if I will not open you the Windows of Heaven, and pour you out a Blessing, that there shall not be room eno' to re­ceive it.

[Page 26] Again, There is no fear of the Idleness, Pride or Luxury of the Clergy, from that decent and just Maintenance I am pleading for. I plead for no Sumptuousness or Excess, but bare Convenience. And if Professors of the Gospel are against this, their Devotion is too much like what the Fable tells of the Illiberal Bishops Blessing, not amounting in real Value unto the price of a Farthing.

We ought with Thankfulness to acknowledge the Piety of the Government, in the good Provision made to Pay out of the Publick Treasury the Dues of Ministers wrongfully detained from them; and to Tax the respective Towns or Precincts in propor­tion: And we may lay it down for a Rule to us, that the Ministry can never be Comfortable, while in the Settlement of Ministers there continues a necessity of driving Sordid Bargains about a Salary, or while after settlement they are forc'd either abjectly to beg and entreat, or resolutely to scuffle and fight for their Dues by solemn Engagements.

I shall not need to address You again about the Colledge; to speak comfortably always to the Sons of the Prophets at Bethel, which has indeed been to Us as the House of GOD and the Gate of Heaven, for the Heavenly Issues thence, which have refreshed the City of our God.

I will rather mention with great Honour the present Care that the Governmen is shewing, with respect unto the Miserable Places of dark­ness and Irreligion, that have hitherto Shut out the Ministry and Ordinances of Christ from among them, counting themselves unworthy of Eternal Life, Your Desires and Labours after a Mission of [Page 27]some Worthy Persons into such perishing Places; and for their Honourable Support in such difficult Posts, do greatly comfort us, and we Pray the Great LORD of the Harvest to prosper You, and to send forth Labourers into his Harvest.

And now, Finally, Need I again Exhort You, Much Honoured, to be Religious Your Selves, to fear the GOD by whom You rule, and to Serve Him who honours You among His People? You must needs think Your Selves Obliged to shine before Us, in all Vertue, in Devotion, in Faith, in Zeal; in a Publick respect to the Institutions of Christi­anity, and in an Abhorrence of all Immoral Practi­ces; more especially let me say, of Frauds and dishonesty, of nauseous Drunkenness, of Sabbath­breaking, of Unnatural Strifes in Churches, and the Contemptuous Spites of many against their holy Pastors.

II. My next Address is unto my Reverend Fathers and Brethren in the MINISTRY. If it be our Ru­lers Duty and Piety to comfort Us, we must needs think it Our Own,

1. To endeavour in our Places to comfort our Faith­ful Rulers. The Obligation is certainly mutual, and 'tis but a grateful Return unto the Good and Gentle, nay a Duty even to the Froward. There­fore let us fervently Pray for our Rulers, which is Good and Acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour. 1 Tim. ii. 1, 2, 3. Let us be Examples to our Flocks of Loyalty, Humility, Peaceableness, Meekness, Love, Honour, Obedience and Submission in all just Cases: that if we are at any time falsly Accused, we may be able with Truth & Assurance to make [Page 28]the Apostle's Noble Defence, Act. xxv. 8. Neither against the Law, nor the Temple, nor yet against CESAR have I offended any thing at all. Finally, let us be Just to do our Rulers Honour wherein they do well; owning it with Pleasure, and blessing God for it; influencing our respective Charges to do so like­wise. We have no Liberty to grieve or disrest them, if They are bound to speak comfortable to as.

2. Let us be comforted in the Countenance of our Rulers. This is a Duty also which we owe unto GOD and Them. Let us take the Comfort which God gives us; This also is the Gift of God. We have our precious Opportunities of Service: We enjoy great Quietness; and may be as Good and do as much good as we will, and have Praise of the Powers that are: This shou'd make us the Easier under our Difficulties, and the more Chearful in our Work. So were the Levites whom Hezekiah comforted, v. 25. The Priests,—the Levites,—and all the Congregation—rejoyced. So there was great Joy in Jerusalem.

3. If it is the Duty of the Civil Ruler to speak comfortably to the Ministry of Christ, Then cer­tainly it is the Duty of Ministers to comfort one ano­ther. You must needs confess this Inference to be very Just and Natural, and alas! it is no less Ne­cessary. We do not comfort and assist one another thro' this Land as we ought: Some thro' Negligence, some thro' Disaffection, prejudices, and divers Inter­ests. Our Independency in this sense, is our Woe already, and will be our Ruine if it be not remedy­ed, We shou'd Uni [...] [...] Strength if we wou'd not [Page 29]be Feeble: By Separateness we are broken one of a­nother. We shou'd Visit one another oft'ner, and be more Open and very safe in Communicating our Tho'ts to one another. We shou'd tenderly Sym­pathize with one another under Difficulties, and be ready to Succour under Wrongs. We shou'd freely Advise and Hearten one another when Ag­grieved, and above all men Bear with and Forgive one another, and he that is Chief shou'd be Servant of all. We shou'd rejoyce in one anothers Gifts and Graces, Credit and Esteem, Use and Serviceable­ness; and whether we think the same thing in Smaller points of Church Order, yet ought we to appear One in Faith, in Charity, & Zeal for practical Holiness. Finally, we shou'd beware of the Evil Spirit of Credulity against Elders, lightly taking up Accusations against them; but let our Religious Zeal be under the Restraints of the Law of Charity.

III. I will Conclude, with a brief Exhortation to the People.

1. To Imitate their Good Rulers, wherein They are Exemplary in their Regards to the Ministry of Christ. Inferiour People must needs hold them­selves obliged in their Places to be Comforts to their Ministers, since the Highest Orders of Men are bound to be so. Wherefore People ought conscientiously to Love their Ministers, to Pray for 'em, to assist and Support 'em. They shou'd be very Careful not to grieve 'em, contemn or wrong 'em, in Word or Deed.

2. Obey the just and wise Laws made for the Com­fort of the Ministry. As for Instance, Do but be Just [Page 30]to your Agreements with your Ministers. If we cou'd but obtain this in many Places of the Land, it were a Great Point. Yet shou'd Christians blush to need this Exhortation. Read how the People of Judah obey'd the Command of the King in giving the Levites chearfully their Portion: xxxi. Chap. 5, 6. verses. As soon as the Commandment came abroad, the Children of Israel bro't in Abundance the First-fruits of Corn, Wine and Oyl, and Honey, and of all the In­crease of the Field, and the Tithe of all things bro't they in Abundantly: — the Tithe of Holy things, which were Consecrated unto the LORD their God, and laid them by heaps.

3. Let People learn from our Doctrine, to know their own Happiness when they have Rulers that set Themselves to Encourage the Ministry and Service of God. None but a Sanballat or Tobiah can be grieved at it, to see the Civil Ruler seeking the Welfare of Israel. It shou'd raise our Value, Esteem and Love, and put us on doubling our Prayers for, and our Endeavours to comfort Such Rulers. The Good Job was such a Ruler; He chose out their Way, and sat Chief, and dwelt as a King in the Army; as one that Comforteth the Mourners: and he tells us how it endear'd him to his People: Job xxix. 23, 24. They waited for me as for the Rain, and they op'ned their Mouth wide as for the latter Rain: If I laughed on them they believ'd it not, and the light of my Countenance they cast not down. They were refresh'd by such a Rulers Presence and Countenance, Wisdom and Care, even as the Thirsty Earth is by the Showers of Rain: They priz'd his Favour, and were Solici­tous not to lose the light of his Countenance shining [Page 31]upon them: They Presum'd not upon his Conde­scentions to diminish his Authority, and to blow up­on the Light that cherish'd 'em: They were care­ful not to Grieve him, to make his Countenance to fall, or to make him Change his Looks and Carriage toward 'em: The Light of my Countenance they cast not down.

Thus I have endeavour'd to go thro' our re­spective Duties from the Text, and now will dismiss the ASSEMPLY as the Levites did the Great Congregation of Israel and Judah, in the last Verse of the Chapter. Then the Priests the Levites arose, and blessed the People: and their Voice was heard, and their Prayer came up to His Holy Dwelling-place, even unto Heaven.

Even so Comfort the Hearts of your faithful Pastors, and you will inherit their louder and more fervent Blessing: Their Invigorated Prayers for You and your Posterity will come up to the Holy dwelling-place of GOD, even unto Heaven, obtain­ing the Effusion of every Sort, and every Measure, of Spiritual Blessing, from on High.