The good subject's wish or, The desirableness of the Divine presence with civil rulers. Opened & applied in a sermon preached before the General Assembly of the colony of Connecticut, at Hartford, May 12th 1726. The day for electing the Honourable the governour, the deputy-governour, & the worshipful assistants there. / By Phineas Fiske, M.A. Pastor of a church in Haddam, published by orderof authority.

The good subject's wish or, The desirableness of the Divine presence with civil rulers. Opened & applied in a sermon preached before the General Assembly of the colony of Connecticut, at Hartford, May 12th 1726. The day for electing the Honourable the governour, the deputy-governour, & the worshipful assistants there. / By Phineas Fiske, M.A. Pastor of a church in Haddam, published by orderof authority.

Table of contents

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At a General Assembly Held at Hartford May 12th. 1726.

Title page

The Good Subject's Wish. Or, The Desirableness of the Divine Presence with Civil Rulers.

ADVERTISEMENT.

[Page]

The Good Subject's Wish. Or, The Desirableness of the Divine Presence with Civil Rulers.

JOSHUA I. 17.‘—Only the LORD thy GOD be with thee, as He was with Moses.’

THIS Book contains the history of Joshua's Reign & Government, whom, after the Death of Moses, God made Chief Captain of Israel, to conduct them into the Land of Canaan, at once to fulfil the many Promises made to Abraham to Isaac and to Jacob, that their Seed shou'd inherit the Land of the Canaanites, and to Execute the Curse on Canaan, which Noah by a Prophetick Spirit uttered against him, on occasion of Ham's imprudence, irreverence and impudence, in discovering his [Page] Father's Nakedness: Gen. 9 26. Blessed be the Lord God of Shem, and Canaan shall be his Servant.

And in this Chapter we shall Observe,

1. That Joshua is Divinely called to the Government. Moses the Servant of the Lord was dead, and God appoints Joshua to stand up in his stead, and Lead His People over Jordan; and encourages him with gracious Promises of Assistance & Success, from the 1st. to the 10th. Verse. It is God's work to give Rulers to a People. This Promotion comes neither from the East nor from the West, nor from the South; but God is the Judge, and He setteth up whomsoever He will, Psal. 75. 6, 7.

2. Joshua accepts the Government, and addresses himself to the Business of it, giving the needful Orders to all the Officers, from the 10th. to the 16th. Verse. Whatever humble apprehensions Joshua (tho' a very worthy man) might have of the Disparity between himself and Moses, his so great a Predecessor, and of the Difficulty he might meet with in Managing so rough a People, as he knew they had been, yet GOD's Call must silence all Objections; and the Promise of the Divine Presence was enough to animate him with Courage chearfully to enter upon the great Work.

[Page] 3. The People agree to it: Joshua shall be their Chief and Head; and virtually at least take an Oath of Fidelity to him. And whom should they Serve, but him whom the LORD had Chosen to go before them? And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, & whithersoever thou sendest us we will go: According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee; Only the Lord thy God be with thee, as He was with Moses. This Answer was made to Joshua, not only by the Reubenites & Gadites and half-Tribe of Manasseh, to whom Moses had last of all directed his Speech, but all the Rulers of the People to whom he first gave Commandment, V. 10. In their own behalf and in behalf of all the People,

(1) Promise him Obedience, both as Subjects and Souldiers. All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us we will go. And lest Joshua should fear that his Interest in their Affections was too small and that their Subjection to him would be but cool and indifferent, to remove this Suspicion they amplify their Promise & tell him, That as they hearkened in all things unto Moses, so they would likewise hearken unto him. They had no great cause to glory in the goodness of their Behaviour under and [Page] toward Moses. They had sufficiently made known their Rebellious Spirit and Stiff-neck to him, Deut. 31. 27. But altho, the Generation that were brought up in Egypt and fell in the Wilderness, were stubborn & froward, yet their Children that were brought up in the Wilderness under Moses, and now made the Promise to Joshua might have been better Behaved†. A good Government hath a mighty influence into the Manners & Behaviour of men: And it is a great advantage to be Educated under able and pious Guides. These Israelites, that were brought up under Moses, carried themselves well, both under him and under Joshua.

(2) They assist Joshua with their good Wishes in his great Undertaking. Only the Lord thy God be with thee as He was with Moses. They don't make it a condition of their Obedience; nor say, They will be no longer Subject to him than he shall be Prosperous. They knew Joshua well and don't seem to have laboured under a fear of his Provoking God to forsake him, or of God's failing to make good His Promise to Joshua. Ver. 5. As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee, I will not leave thee nor forsake thee. They only pray it might be unto Joshua according to [Page] God's Word; and tacitly Exhort him to keep himself in a capacity of God's continual Assistance.

[1.] They gratefully acknowledge the Blessing they had in Moses: That he was a man that had much of the Presence of God with him in his Publick Administrations; and therefore their Obedience unto him was not Unmerited. They express their Piety to GOD, & their Regards to Moses. They ascribe the Glory of all the great things done for them by the hand of Moses, unto GOD. It was His Presence with Moses which was the chief Cause of all the many worthy Deeds that had been done for them, by him; And they remember Moses as a Man greatly owned of GOD in his Place and favoured much with the Divine Presence in his Conduct.

[2] They put Respect upon Joshua, wishing the blessing of his Predecessor might come upon him: As they purposed to pay the like Obedience to him which they gave to Moses. They had changed their Ruler, but were concerned that they might not lose that which had been the beauty and the strength of their Government, viz the Presence of GOD with their Ruler: and therefore pray that the Spirit of Moses might rest in a double portion upon Joshua, and that the same GOD that [Page] had helped Moses all his Days, would carry Joshua well through all his Work.

Note, As Gratitude to the Father of Lights from whom comes every good & perfect gift, obliges us not to be wanting, in paying all due Regards to the memory of the Dead, that have been eminently Useful & Services able among us in Publick Capacities, so neither should we forget to Honour the Living that succeed them in their Characters and Labours. The Israelites make honourable Mention of deceased Moses, and pay a due Deference unto succeeding Joshua.

But our Present work is to Clear and Improve the following

DOCTRINE. It is much to be desired that Civil Rulers may have much of the Presence of GOD with them.

This was it upon which the Israelites so highly Valued Moses; and it seems to have been a prospect of this that made them so chearful and full in their Promises unto Joshua.

1. That they may be well fitted for the Business of Government; which calls for no small Accomplishments to reach the Ends thereof▪ Which as they are of grand Importance unto [Page] the Children of men, so they are not easily attained. The flourishing of Piety & Religion; the flowing & free course of Righteousness; the Peace & Tranquility of Civil Societies and the Publick Good in all these, are the things to be atcheived by Civil Government and should be the fixed Aims, and steady Views of all in Authority‖. And the Bonds whereby Societies are held together, the Cases whereby they are weakned in any of these great Interests, and the Remedies whereby they are restored, are things that lie out of the sight and reach of Ordinary Abilities. It must be the Presence of GOD in an Uncommon measure that must make men meet for such Undertakings. We should all be Pares Negotiis, a Match for our Work. And therefore when God did more immediately call any to serve Himself and their Generations in such a way, either they were men whom He had before prepared by suitable Endowments for such Work, as He did Moses & Joshua, or He did then more immediately Gift them to His Service; as in Saul's case, to whom, after he was anointed by Samuel to be Captain over God's Inheritance, GOD gave another heart, 1 Sam. 10 9 Not a new heart, but a Princely spirit & Endowments for Government▪ [Page] And when God gives leave to us to choose Rulers for our selves, He limits our Choice to such as He hath already Gifted & Prepared. Agreeable therefore to the Divine Will, was the Counsel of Jethro to Moses, Exod. 18. 21. That he should provide out of all the People, able men, such as feared God, acted truly & hated Covetousness, and set them over the People. And when God, pursuant to this Counsel by Jethro, gave Moses the Sanhedrim for his Assistance, He ordered Moses, (Numb. 11. 16.) to gather unto him Seventy men of the Elders of Israel, whom he knew to be the Elders of the People: To select out of the Elders of Israel Seventy of the most approved Abilities, to help him bear his Burden. And because the Circumstances of Israel were Extraordinary in the Wilderness, therefore a peculiar Presence of God is granted to them, Ver. 18 I will take of the spirit that is upon Thee, and put it upon them. God would shew the spirit of Moses with them, as he did His work: Not that the Gift of the Spirit was at all diminished in Moses; but a like Prophetick Spirit & Infallible Conduct afforded unto the Seventy, which had been before peculiar unto Moses *. What these Abilities are which are the Gifts of the [Page] God of all Grace, for the Benefit of a People, in them that bear Rule, hath been shewn by others on these Occasions, to which I refer you.

2. That they may be well spirited to their Work. And indeed this is of main Consideration in this affair, that such as are concerned in the Government of a People, should have a kindly disposition to the Duties of it. It is the Apostle's Command, Rom. 12. 11. That we be not slothful in Business, but fervent in spirit serving the Lord. And our Zeal should bear a proportion to the Service we have to do for GOD. Civil Rulers then should be men warmly affected to the Publick Good, and in good earnest to approve themselves Benefactors to mankind. It is for this end Government is ordained. Rom. 13. 4. He is the minister of God to thee for good. And the Ruler, whose heart is right with God, will set himself to devise liberal things for the good of a People; and spare no Pains, nor leave any Stone unturned to advance the Publick Interest. He will labour to draw others into the Paths of Vertue & Righteousness, by going before them in a bright Example; and will be very careful that there be nothing in his Conversation that may be a Stumbling-block to others, or an occasion of Sin. If he have Power thereunto, he will [Page] gladly help forward the Enacting of good Laws, however he will do what in him lies, to keep up the Credit of such good Laws as are Enacted for the Banishing Wickedness out of the Land, and the Advancing Righteousness and Religion, that they may not Sink into Contempt and become Enervated. He will Faithfully Execute Judgment on Transgressors, and in his Zeal will say with upright David, Psal. 101. 8. I will Early destroy all the Wicked of the Land: that I may cut off all Wicked doers from the City of the Lord. His Influences on others will be not a little conducive to their good Behaviour. Much Good will be done by him thro' his Countenancing, and Bestowing marks of his Favour, on them that are found in the ways of well doing. And his frowns will weaken the hands of the Wicked, that they may turn from their Evil way. He will not only Endeavour to do Good himself, but will help forward and encourage others in being Publickly Serviceable. So did Hezekiah who spake Comfortably to the Levites that taught the good Knowledge of the LORD. 2 Chron. 30. 22.

But without this Zeal of how little Benefit are they like to be to the World, whatever be their Ability's or Authority. Of what worth is a Talent that is wrapt up in a [Page] Napkin. Such will be in Effect but meer Titular Rulers, but Idol-gods, that have Eyes but see not the faults of Men, Ears but hear not the cry of the Poor, Mouths but speak not for the relief of the Oppressed in the gate, and Hands but revenge not the wrongs done by Transgressors. Indeed the greatest defect of Men in every Station and of every Degree lies here, That they have more Ability than Heart to their Duty. What thro' the Power of Lusts within, and the many Temptations that are without, there is much of that Good neglected & goes undone that we are both fitted for and called to do.

3. To Support them under the burden of Government. Which is not a matter of meer Honour, Pleasure and Profit, (as some seem vainly to Dream; and therefore Ignorantly envy others their preferments,) but an Imployment full of Labour and Travel, Care and Solicitude, Expence and Charge, Hazard and Danger, & therefore calls for much of the Divine Presence Assistance & Support under the presence of it. David compares the managing of Government to the bearing up the Pillars of the Earth. Psal. 75. 3. And surely he had need to have his Shoulders well strengthened, that must stand under such a Weight. Moses although a Mighty Man & beyond Compare, yet Groaned under this [Page] burden. Num. 11. 14, 15. I am not able to bear all this People alone, because it is too Heavy for me. And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found Favour in thy Sight; and let me not see my Wretchedness. It is said that Domesthenes, after a long Government in the Common Wealth, confessed to his Friends, that if in the beginning, the choice had been given him of the Government, or of his Grave, if he could have foreseen the Evils, the Terrors, the Calumnies, the Envies, the Contentions, the Dangers that Men in such Capacity's usually meet with, he would, with much Alacrity have Posted on to his Sepulchre rather than to his Greatness†. And surely none ever well applyed themselves to the work but they felt the weight. Besides the difficulties that attend their work through the cunning Craft and unmanageable Spirit of some offenders▪ And their Sufferings often times in their personal Interest while they attend the Publick affairs, they frequently meet with Injuries, Indignity's and Various abuses that are no small Tryals to them. There are usually Envious Persons that look with an Evil Eye at their Greatness: And with the Sons of Belial that despised Saul, will say, [Page] How shall these men save us? There will be such as despise Dominion, & speak evil of Dignities: There will be Murmurers & Complainers, that will spread & take up false Reports, and fill the world with Lies, Misrepresentations & Slanders: There will be Ambitious men of aspiring spirits, that will flatter the people, & traduce the Government of them that Rule, as Absalom did his Fathers, 2 Sam. 15. 3, 4.—There is no man deputed of the King to hear thee,—Oh! That I were made Judge in the Land, that every man which hath any Suit or Cause, might come unto me, and I would do him Justice And as Korah did Moses's, Numb. 16. 3. Ye [Moses & Aaron] take too much upon you, seeing all the Congregation are holy every one of them: And you ought not therefore thus to usurp Domination over them: And had doubtless made greater Confusion in Israel, had not the Glorious GOD seasonably interposed his own Authority for the protection of Moses and the safety of the People. And in times of Degeneracy and Distress, the Clamours of the People are wont to be thrown against the Rulers, as if they were the Authors of all their Calamities & Sufferings. Nor is it to be expected that the Earthly Gods should meet with better Treatment from impatient Men, than the Great GOD of Heaven; whom they are wont [Page] at such a time, more directly or more indirectly, by Thoughts or Words or Actions, or all of them to Reproach and Blaspheme. Isa. 8. 21. And they shall Pass through it [the Land] hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and Curse their King and their God and look upward. How great a Favour is it to a People, when GOD gives them Rulers, like Moses, that with a Generous Patience & Compassionate Meekness, bear with their frowardness and carry them in their Arms.

4. To Prosper their Endeavours for the Publick good. It is not the Wisdom of the Wise, nor the Counsel of the Prudent, nor the Politicks of States-men can raise a Common Wealth or make one Flourish. The Builders of Babel (probably Nimrod & his Complices) are a pregnant Instance of this. They Projected with themselves to lay the Foundation of an Universal Empire, whose head should be Babylon, which they would build with a very high Tower to command and defend it; Their Scheme was well laid, they were Unanimous in their design, & all things concurred to the accomplishing their Purpose. In so much that God said, Gen. 11. 6.—Now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Only GOD [Page] was not with them to Succeed their Endeavours; but frowned upon their Enterprize, and so it fell to the ground. Edom thought to have Built his desolate Places when he was impoverished, but he reckoned without his host; for what faith the Lord of Hosts? They shall build, but I will throw down, Mal. 1 4.

If the designs be never so Pious, and they that form them be very Zealous too, yet without this, their Labour will be all spent for nought and in vain A work of Reformation will stick in the Birth, if God give not strength to bring forth. The high Places, where the People worshipped contrary to the Divine Commandment, were not taken away in the Days of Jehoshaphat that Reforming Prince; because the Lord had not prepared the hearts of the People (for the Preparation of the heart is from the Lord) to the God of their Fathers, 2 Chron. 20. 33. Tho' this came to pass thro' the fault of the People: God denying them His Grace because of their Neglects and Transgressions; and therefore it is justly charged upon them as their Crime, That they had not prepared their Hearts to return to GOD.

Without this, they can be no Safety nor Protection to a People, nor prevent impending Calamities from breaking in upon them. Psal. 127. 1 Except the LORD keep the City, the [Page]Watchmen waketh but in vain. Moses was so sensible of the Necessity of the Divine Presence, in order unto any good Fruit of his care and pains for Israel, that he dare not move one step without it: Exod. 33. 15. If thy Presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.

It remains now that we Apply this Truth, and it shall be by way of EXHORTATION, and that both to Rulers and Ruled.

1. To Rulers, even to all that are in Authority. And the Exhortation, Honourable, Worshipful and Highly Esteemed, that we bring you this day, is, That you use your best Endeavours to engage the Presence of GOD with you to all the aforementioned Purposes. This will be no less Conducive to your Honour, Interest and Comfort, than to the Weal of this People. It is this must make you truely Valuable and Useful; while such as are without it, are only Cyphers set in a Figures place. It is by GOD Kings Reign well and Princes Decree Justice, even all the Nobles of the Earth. This will be your Strength & make you irresistable No Man should be able to stand before Joshua, because GOD would be with him David Peaceably Possessed the Kingdom of Israel maugre all the Spight of his Enemies, because GOD was with him [Page] and Subdued the People under him‖ Nothing can be too hard for you upon these Terms. David by his God had ran through a Troop; and by his God had leaped over a Wall. Psal. 18 29. This will make all Difficulties vanish away. Who art thou, O Great Mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a Plain. Zec. 4. 7.

Suffer me to put you in Mind

1. That it is a Great Honour done you by the LORD GOD of Israel that he hath set you over, not an Heathen People, but a Tribe of his Inheritance. That He hath Advanced you to such a Care of a People that He has bought with His own Blood. It is a great Confidence God Reposes in you. The Welfare of a People Dear unto Himself, and for whom He hath done great things in Planting, Preserving & Increasing them; & whom He hath Indulged with many Precious & Pleasant things, both of a Civil and Sacred Nature, is intrusted in your hand. And He expects that with a Fatherly Care & Goodness you Nurse them, & Lead them with Watchfulness and Tenderness as a Flock▪ It is for a Covenant People He would have great and good things done [Page] by you His own Honour too is much concerned in their good Behaviour, and that depends not a little on your Prudent and Faithful Administrations. Oh! what Grace, what Assistance, how much of the Presence of GOD every way is needful to the becoming Discharge of so great a Trust.

2. It is a great Work, and much Good you have to do for this People. It is for their sakes God hath raised you to your Posts of Honour. And there is much Business He hath for you to do in the midst of us. Our Restraint & Reformation, our Protection and Preservation, our Prosperity on one account & another, must under GOD be very much the Fruit of your Paternal care. There are with us Iniquities against the LORD our GOD, Manifold & Mighty Sins, that have brought down the Judgments of GOD upon us from Year to Year: There is Prophaness and Sabbath breaking, there is Pride and Idleness, there is Luxurie and Intemperance, there is much Uncleaness and Unrighteousness, there are Disorders and Contentions (not to mention the Numerous other Evils that the Sword of Civil Justice cannot Punish) because of which the Land mourns. And our Eyes are upon you, to make up the Hedge, and to stand in the Gap, before GOD, for the Land that he should not Destroy it. Your [Page] sense of our Guilt, Affectedness, with our Sufferings, earnest Solicitations at the Throne of Grace for us, and Faithful Punishing the Offenders, is the way to heal our breaches and prevent our Ruine. Moses was Israel's Bulwark in the day of their Provocation, when the Fierce Anger of the LORD was Kindled against them, so that he Threatned to Consume them in a Moment, & obtained Mercy for them, and that by his Fervent Intercession for them with GOD, and Severe Execution of Justice on the Idolaters. Psal. 106. 23. And when Israel had greatly Defiled themselves, by Committing both Spiritual and Corporal Whoredom until the Plague break in upon them. Phineas by executing Judgment in his Zeal upon Zimri & Co [...]bi, Prevailed to the staying of the Plague. Ver. 29, 30. But Oh! how much of the Divine Presence is necessary to strengthen you with Courage and Zeal to stem the currant of prevailing Iniquity in our Declining Times.

But this is not all, it is not enough that you see to it, Ne Res publica aliquid Detrimenti Capiat, that the Publick do not Suffer in its Interest; that you retrieve the Government from Present Evils, and Guard against approaching Dangers: but both the Secular and Sacred Good thereof must be furthered [Page] and advanced by you. Even Saul helped forward the Worldly Interests of Israel: For David in his Lamentation over him, (2 Sam. 1. 24) makes honourable mention of this good fruit of his Government. that he furnished the Daughters of Israel with Beautiful Apparel and Delights. Either thro' his Victories inriching the Nation with the spoils of his Enemies, or by the Prudence of his Reign causing the Land to abound with Wealth and Pleasant things. It is part of Mordecai's good Character, Est. 10. 3. That he sought the Wealth of his People. And it is reckoned as one of the Glories of Solomons Reign, that he made Silver as Stones in Jerusalem, 2 Chron. 9 27. But more Especially you should have at Heart the thriving of Religion among us. Good Kings have always made it their Chief care to Advance this among their People. And have looked upon it as their greatest Honour to have been able to Contribute any thing to the Promotion of Christs Kingdom. The good Emperour Theodosius was wont to Style himself, Ultimus Dei Servus, The Lowest Servant of GOD, and thought it his highest Title. Indeed you are by Office Nursing Fathers to these Churches. And what a vast Field is here for the Improvement of all your Abilities in the Service of your Great LORD. [Page] May the Good hand of GOD be with you, as it was with Governour Nehemiah, in all the good you have to do for this People.

3. It may be but a very little while that GOD will Honour you, with the Opportunity, of doing so much good for his People. Your Breath is in your Nostrils, and when that goeth forth, we must cease to expect any further help from you. We see, with Grief that Wise and Great Men Dye as well as others, yea that they go to their Graves in their full Strength. What a Pity is it that any part of a short and uncertain Time should fail of being filled with doing Good. And how Happy are they that find Mercy with GOD, to be so Faithful in their Exalted Stations as to be able in the end of their Time, to Appeal to GOD, with our Blessed Saviour, John 17. 4. Father—I have Glorified thee on the Earth: I have Finished the Work thou gavest me to do. Besides, your Election is Annual which calls for the closer Application to your Work: And an Heart to do, what your hand finds to do, for the Publick Good, with all your might would be a great Blessing from Heaven, for this Work can't be done by Men in a Private Capacity.

And now I must lay before you some of those Methods that lead to the Injoyment of this so Blessed a Priviledge▪

[Page] (1) Such as would enjoy the Presence of GOD in Civil Publick Capacity's, must be Preferred by GOD, and not be self Promoters. It may Reasonably be Expected that GOD will own and Bless Men in that Service for himself, which he Calls them to. This is our Encouragement against all our Pears arising from a sense either of our own Weakness, or the greatness of Publick Work, that GOD who calls and improveth us, is able to Supply us with all needed Strength, & to carry on his own Purposes by his own Instruments. This was Joshua's case. The GOD of Israel made him Captain over his Inheritance, and he never forsook him but Accomplished the Settlement of Israel in the Land of Canaan by his Hand. But if Men seek their own Advancement, and lay Plots for their own Promotion, and have a great hand in their own Preferments, what can be Expected but that GOD should leave them to themselves. Self Promotion is very Displeasing to GOD, who never wants Instruments for his own Work, and would have no Man rush into his Service or run of his Errand before he is sent When our LORD JESUS saw the Pharisee [...] chusing for themselves the Chief rooms at a Feast, he reproved them. Luk. 14. 7, &c. And on that occasion gave Documents of Modesty [Page] and Humility, Teaching both them and us that the way to be Owned and Honoured both by GOD and Man, is to carry it with Lowliness of Mind, Esteeming and Preferring others before our selves and leaving our own Promotion to other Men. For whosoever Exalteth himself, shall be Abased; and he that Humbleth himself, shall be Exalted Ver. 11 The aspiring Spirit of the two Sons of Zebedee, that did so much itch to be the two chief Ministers of State, in Christ's supposed Temporal Kingdom, was very Offensive to CHRIST as well as to their Brethren. And when the Disciples had reasoned among themselves who shou'd be the greatest, CHRIST set a little Child before them as a Pattern of Humility; and shew'd them that they ought to study to be as far, as that little Child, from Ambitious de [...]es and contrivances of Empire & Government; lest they should be Excluded the Kingdom of Heaven. Compare Mat. 18. 1, 2, 3 with Mark. 9▪ 33, 34. It is plain then, a course so irregular is not the way to obtain the Divine Favour. Seldom are ambitious Spirits the best Qualified to Rule. The Vine doth not thirst after Promotion over the Trees of the Wood. ‘The good Emperor Theodosius, when he had done all that could make him worthy to Rule, would do nothing at [Page] all that he might Rule: Qui pollet virtutibus debet invitus accidere; They who are fittest to Govern, should not accept of Rule, unless they be drawn;’ says Jenkins from Peralaus.

(2) They must carry it with Humility & Meekness in their Posts. These are Vertues not calculated meerly for the Poor and Low; but are eminent Ornaments of the Great and High. Our LORD JESUS CHRIST, the Glorious King of Israel, was Meek and Lowly: With what Condescention and Goodness, with what Gentleness and Compassion, did He treat his People in the days of his Flesh, & doth he still treat them. And He wou'd have these Vertues Learned by his Example. This will make room for you in the Hearts of your People, and render the Exercise of your Authority easy. The King over GOD's People might not li [...] himself up above his Brethren Deu [...]. 17. 20. The Dignity of Authority is not to be Maintained by Pride and Passion CHRIST hath taught us, That he that would be Greatest‖ must be Servant of all Re [...]o [...]oam for want of this, lost Ten Tribes of his Kingdom. And the haughtiness of Nebuchadnezzer's heart cost him dear: Dan. 5. 20. When his [Page]heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in Pride, he was deposed from his Kingly Throne, and they took his Glory from him. It is noted of Moses that he was very Meek above all the men that were upon the face of the earth,† and he was blessed with a distinguishing degree of the Divine Presence. Psal. 25. 9. The Meek he will Guide in Judgment

(3) They must Labour to be well Skilled and Knowing in the Duties of their Office. I know such Skill is Chargeable, and will cost Books, Time & Pains, to make any considerable Acquisitions therein. And if the Publick Allowance will not bear you out therein▪ yet your Still will be its own Reward. This will strengthen your hands in your Proceedings, & make others stand in awe of your Authority. This made King Solomon great in the sight of all Israel. 1 King 3. 28. And all Israel heard of the Judgment which the King had Judged, and they Feared the King: for they saw that the Wisdom of GOD was in him, to do Judgment. Wisdom will make a Mans Face to shine, (Eccl. 8. 1) and cause others to pay him a Deference.

But if your Domestick Affairs, and Care of your own and those of your own Houses, will not allow you Liesure to search after much of that Knowledge that is to be desired in you, & by you; yet be not by any means [Page] diverted from the Study of your own Duty, and of those things that may Accomplish you to the Discharge of your particular Trust. The King must read in the Book of the Law all the Days of his Life, Deut. 17 19 The Wisdom of the Prudent is to understand his way On this Condition the Divine Presence was Promised to Joshua; Josh. 1. 8. This Book of the Law shall not depart out of thy Mouth, but thou shalt Meditate therein Day and Night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way Prosperous, & then thou shalt have good Success. Or (as the Margin reads it) shalt do Wisely.

(4) They must be very thorow in the Discharge of their Particular Trusts, and not do the Work of the LORD negligently. It is GOD's Law, That he that Ruleth should rule with Diligence, Rom. 12. 8. Let the Command of Jehoshaphat to his Judges, be always upon your minds as the Charge of GOD to you, 2 Chron 19. 6, 7 Take heed what you do: for you Judge not for Man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the Judgment. Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you, take heed & do it. This Work must be done by You, or left undone; Others have no Call to it.

Fidelity is the way to Promotion: He that is Faithful over a few things, shall be made [Page] Ruler over much, Mat. 25 21 Habenti dabitur. A defect here lost Saul both the Presence of GOD and his Kingdom. GOD was with him, until he proved Unfaithful in the matter of Amaleck, but then the LORD departed from him, and rent the Kingdom out of his hand, Whatsoever be the Work assigned you, Endeavour to accomplish it, and let not the Kings business [the King of Kings business] Suffer in your hands. If you arise to do the Business that belongs to you, it is to be expected that the LORD will be with you; while Slackness is a Provocation to Him. The Slothful Servant incurred the severe Displeasure of his Lord and lost his Talent, while the Faithful was Rewarded. All men expect Publick Service from Publick Persons When Adrian the Emperor neglected his Work, it was well said to him by an old Woman, Then renounce thy Place as thou hast done thy Duty.

(5) They must be strictly Pious. For the Rock of Israel hath said, that he that Ruleth over Men must Rule in the fear of GOD, 2 Sam. 23. 3. It is an Article in Jethro's Counsel, That Rulers should be men that have the Fear of GOD before their Eyes. And surely by how much the more closely they walk with GOD by so much the more they [...]ay expect the Divine Presence will be with [...]. For what said the Prophet that we [...] out to [Page] meet Asa, 2 Chron. 15. 2.—Hear ye me, Asa & all Judah & Benjamin, the LORD is with you, while ye be with Him;—But if you forsake him, he will forsake you. GOD was wonderfully with Solomon while he kept the way of the LORD and was stedfast in his Covenant, insomuch that there was neither Adversary nor evil Occurrent in all his Kingdom, but when he forsook GOD & turned to Idolatry, GOD withdrew his more Favourable Presence from him, and raised him up one Adversary after another.

Piety will add a Brightness to all your accomplishments & make your Authority more Awful. Herod himself feared John, knowing he was a Good Man & a Just. It was Paul's Religion, as well as Reasoning before Felix, made him Tremble. And how well doth Goodness become them that Judge for GOD, and Represent Him on the Earth.

(6) They must be Strong and of a Good Courage. The Scripture styles you God's, be not afraid of the face of Man. Vice is impudent, and many offenders have necks with Iron sinews & brows of Brass. Be Valiant therefore for the Cause of GOD upon the Earth. Much Moderation will be your Honour in your own Cause but Zeal becomes the Cause of GOD. Moses was very mild & meek when Aaron & Miriam spake against him; but his anger waxed [Page] hot when the Idolaters had made & worshipped the Golden Calf.

Let not Sinners be hardned in their evil Ways thro' your Timidity; but Execute wrath fiercely on Offenders, and never punish them with a timorous Excuse, That you could not help it; The Law, your Office & Oath obliged you to it; They must not be troubled with you—For what is this but to Counter-work Justice in the very design of it? To justify the Delinquent in his Crime, & accuse the Law, your Office & Oath, of Injustice; as if they obliged you to do him an Injury. Rather make them sensible of their own Perverseness, and your Resentments, that Iniquity may be born down before you. Josh. 1. 7. Only be thou Strong and very Couragious, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the Law, which Moses my Servant Commanded thee: Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest Prosper whithersoever thou goest.

(7) By Instant Prayer seek the Presence of GOD with you, and his Blessing upon all your Administrations. The LORD is a GOD hearing Prayer: and hath promised his Spirit to them that seek it, and that not only as a Spirit of Grace, but of Gifts*, Wisdom for Government, as well as for other Affairs, is to be sought of the Father of Lights. How very [Page] successful as well as pleasing to GOD, was Solomon's Petition? 1 King 3. 9. Give therefore thy Servant an understanding heart to judge thy People, that I may discern between good and bad.

And now I must turn my self more particularly to the Honourable the GOVERNOUR, the DEPUTY-Governour, & the Worshipful ASSISTANTS of this Colony. And the Address we make to you this day, Honourable & Worshipful, is what Israel made to Joshua in our Text;We will hearken unto you in all things, as we did unto your Predecessors: Only the LORD your GOD be with You as He was with Them.

This Government hath been bless'd with very Valuable Privileges and a Succession of Men, to administer their Publick Affairs, of great Worth; who having served their Generations Faithfully, are fallen asleep. But the Hand of GOD hath been heavy upon us of late in the early Removal of many of those who were Pillars among us, Men of approved Ability's & Integrity, whom we Loved and Honoured, but called off from their Work, while in their full Strength, & in the heighth of their Improvement. The Wisdom Righteousness and Sovereignty of an Holy GOD is Adorable, & to be Submitted to with all Prostration, in these Dispensations of his [Page] Providence, but more especially in the Death of the late Governour (which I hope it is not altogether unseasonable to mention, altho' he Deceased not in the Year past) The Jews long Lamented the Death of good Josiah, and made honourable mention of him in all their Publick Mournings for many Years; and Jeremiah the Prophet made it an Ordinance that they should do so, 2 Chron 35. 25. I have no Talent at giving Characters; and GOVERNOURS ALTONST ALL's has been already well given, both in the Funeral Sermons † for him and in the Publick Prints. Nevertheless I cannot forbear, on this occasion, to assist you in Paying a Tear to his Memory. He was then a Man of the brightest Accomplishments, whom GOD had Adorned with so many Gifts and Endowments & in so Eminent a Degree, as rendred him like Saul taller than his Brethren by the Head & Shoulders, & made him Famous in both Englands. These Excellencies that in others exist seperate, in him were conjoyned. Readiness of Tho't and Solidity of Judgment; Strength of Reason and Elegancy of Style: Warmth & Activity of Temper & yet a great Command of his own Spirit. His Wisdom & Prudence, his Piety & Probity, his Fidelity [Page] & Constancy, rendred him our Safety abroad and Strength at home. He was indeed, Et Praesidium & dulce decus nostrum, Our Chariots & our Horsemen.

His Concern for the House of GOD, in bringing about the Establishment of our Churches by a Law; and so taking them into his own Arms and placing them under the Paternal Care & Protection of the Government. His Love to our School of the Prophets & promoting the Welfare thereof with heart & hand; and eminent Appearing in a difficult Day for the help both of It and our Churches, ought never to be forgotten; Nor his constant & growing Zeal for the Gospellizing the Poor Heathen, to whom we have been so long Neighbours, but too regardless of their Souls.

He was taken from us as Moses from Israel when his Eye was not dim, nor his Natural force abated, and left us to Sigh out our Sorrows in the words of the Lamenting Prophet, Lam 5. 16. The Crown is fallen from our Head: We unto us that we have Sinned.

Nevertheless we Bless GOD, that altho' this strong Rod be broken, yet we are not reduced to the Prophets Complaint, that there are no Strong Rods for a Scepter to rule. May the GOD of the Spirits of all Flesh, that hath set you over this His Congregation, take of [Page] His Spirit and put it, in still more Plentiful measures, upon you. And as the Israelites carried it better under Joshua, than under Moses. So may you always find us less querulous & murmuring, more Tractable and Dutiful than we have been heretofore.

Second Branch of the Exhortation.

II. And now let me offer a word of Advice to the BODY OF THIS PEOPLE; Do what in you lies that you may always have such to Rule over you, as GOD will delight to be with & Bless in their great & Good Service for you. Upon this depends all the Good Fruit of Government. Rulers will be unto you what GOD shall be Pleased to make them. If they be under a Wise & Good Conduct, and Succeeded in their way, we shall reap the Benefit; but if their Wisdom perish & their Counsel & Endeavours for us come to nought, we shall be the Sufferers. How much doth it Concern us then to Labour in this matter? It is this must make us an Happy People, and our State Prosperous. The Common Wealth, the Publick Good can't flourish but under a Wise & good Administration. If any think this not material, and thro' weakness or wickedness, despise & hate Knowlege & Wisdom in them that bear Rule, [Page] the Queen of the South shall rise up in Judgment against them & shall Condemn them; for she pronounced Israel Blessed, when she saw how GOD was with Solomon, and with what measures of Wisdom his Affairs were ordered, and consequently his Kingdom administred: 2 Chron. 9. 7, 8. Happy are thy Men, and happy are these thy Servants, which stand continually before thee, and hear thy Wisdom. Blessed be the LORD thy GOD, which delighted in thee to set thee on his Throne, to be King for the LORD thy GOD: because thy GOD loved Israel, to Establish them for ever, therefore made He thee King over them, to do Judgment and Justice.

And altho' GOD be Sovereign of His Favours, and dispense them unto whom and when He will; Nevertheless there are Courses for us to take, that lead to our good herein, and we may contribute much to this matter. And there are ways which if we take, will cut off all reasonable Expectations of it.

1. Let all that are concerned to Elect Persons to Places of Trust and Government, aim at this in their Choice. And be not Governed by any Sinister Views. Be under the influence of this and not of any hurtful Lusts in giving in your Suffrages. The case of man is deplorable, in his fallen State, that he can hardly [Page] see his own Interest, and Difficultly pursue it. He is full of Evil Lusts that Blind his mind and Alienate his heart from the way of his own Good. And Exceedingly so in this as well as in other matters. Consider your own Weakness, and watch and strive against Temptations. Covetousness will Disaffect you to such as would carry on the Publick Good to the best Advantage, lest they should put you to some Charge to maintain good Designs. The Love of the World is always Enmity against GOD, and those Persons and Designs that most of all Honour Him. Pride Envy and a Levelling Spirit, are very hu [...]ful in this affair. The Scripture stiles Rulers, Dignities; and that is but an ill spirit that is disaffected to the Dignity of Rulers. They that with Korah, would reduce Rulers and Ruled to a Level do, in effect, destroy Government & render it useless. A Licentious Spirit, that hates to be Controuled, will be for such to Rule, as are least Able, or may be likely to be least Faithful to restrain them in their ill Practises. But let your Eyes be on the Able and the Faithful of the Land; and look out men of Renown, known in your Tribes, whom GOD hath Exalted by His Gifts, and Promote them by your Election. You must not dictate to the Most High, and say He [Page] shall be Present with, and Bless these and those whom you make Choice of out of Humour, Faction, Carnal Interest, or to gratify some other Lust. But let us follow the guidance of Providence in improving those in His Service He hath best fitted for His Work. If we neglect His Conduct, He will in anger say of us as of Israel, Hos. 8. 4. They have set up Kings, but not by me: they have made Princes, but I knew it not: That is did not approve of it.

2. Let us take heed left we Provoke GOD to with-hold from us this so Great a Blessing of his Presence with our Rulers. GOD is wont to suit His dealings to the Behaviour of a Covenant People; Psal. 18. 26. With the Pure thou wilt shew thy self Pure, & with the Froward thou wilt shew thy self Froward. He will be unto them in His Providences, as they are to Him in their Behaviour▪ While they do Justly and love Mercy, and walk Humbly with, their GOD; while they live in some good measure up to their Profession, Obligations & Privileges, they may reasonably Expect, that the LORD will Rejoice over them, to do them good; and will make their Judges as at the first, and their Counsellors as at the beginning: But when they forget their Engagements to GOD, and break His Covenant, & walk Contrary unto Him, what may [Page] they look for, but that GOD will also walk contrary unto them, & punish them for their Iniquities; and as in various other ways, so sometimes in their Rulers. Hos. 13. 11. I gave thee a King in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath. The Transgressions of Israel Provoked GOD to Anger, and caused him to forsake David, and leave him to the Power of Satans Temptation, that, in the Pride of his Heart, he should number Israel, and so occasion was given for the bringing the Pestilence at that Time, on a guilty Land. 2 Sam. 24. 1. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, & he moved David against them to say, Go number Israel & Judah. It was for the wickedness of Judah & Jerusalem, that GOD took from them their brave Men, and gave them Children to be their Oppressors & Women to Rule over them, Isa. 3. 12. Men thro' weakness & wickedness are altogether insufficient for, and unworthy of the Government.

TO CONCLUDE.

3. Let us carry it with Gratitude, toward both GOD and our Rulers. Let us shew our selves sensible of, and duely affected with our Privileges; and not be weary of, & quarrel with our own Happiness. Let us bless GOD for a good & gentle Government injoyed by us; and [Page] that our Rulers are of our Selves, and our Governour proceeds from the midst of us, Which GOD promised as a great Favour to the Jews, Jer. 30. 21. Let us Thankfully accept their Endeavours for our Good: and every way Strengthen their hands, and assist them in their Work. And not Clamour against them, for Humane Imperfections: much less for a Faithful Punishing Evil Doers; nor side with Prophane and Wicked Men, in their Contempt of Authority, and of the Laws of GOD and Man. Let us not add to their Burden by Stiffness or Frowardness: But remember the Command of the Apostle, 1 Pet. 2. 13. Submit your selves to every Ordinance of Man for the LORD's Sake. Let us get a sense of the Greatness of their Work, and the Necessity of it, for our Good. And let our Prayers be with much Importunity, to the GOD of all Grace, for them, that they may have always a Sufficiency of the Divine Presence, to every Purpose of Government; that we may lead a Quiet and Peaceable Life, in all Godliness and Honesty. But above all, Let us Hearken in all things to the KING Eternal, Immortal, Invisible; the Only Wise GOD: Let us be Stedfast and Unmoveable, always Abounding in His Work, that He may Delight to Lead us, as He did Israel of Old, by the Hand of Moses and Aaron as a Flock.

FINIS.

Notes

†

Vid. Henry in Loc.

↵

‖

1 Tim. 2. 2.

↵

*

Vid. D [...]od▪ in Loc.

↵

†

Vid. Humane Prudence.

↵

‖

Psal. 18. 47.

↵

‖

Mat. 23. 11.

↵

†

Numb. 12. 3.

↵

*

Compare Luk. 11. 13. with Mat. 7. 11.

↵

†

By Dr. MATHER and Mr. ADAMS.

↵

§

§

[Page]

[Page]

Mr. Fiske's SERMON ON The Good Subject's Wish.

Delivered at the ELECTION, May 12, 1726.

At a General Assembly Held at Hartford May 12th. 1726.

[Page]

Ordered by this Assembly,

THAT Hezekiah Brainerd, Esq; and Capt. James Brainerd, Return the Thanks of this Assembly, to the Reverend Mr. Phineas Fiske of Haddam, for his SERMON Preach'd before this Assembly on the Twelfth of May Instant▪ and Desire that he give a Copy thereof that it may be Printed.

Hez. Wyllys, Secr.

§

§

[Page]

THE Good Subject's WISH OR, The DESIRABLENESS OF THE DIVINE PRESENCE WITH Civil Rulers.

Opened & Applied in a SERMON Preached before the General Assembly of the Colony of Connecticut, at Hartford, May 12th 1726.

The Day for Electing the Honourable the GOVERNOUR, the DEPUTY-Governour, & the Worshipful ASSISTANTS there.

By Phineas Fiske, M. A.

Pastor of a Church in Haddam.

Published by Order of Authority.

N LONDON, Printed & Sold by T. GREEN, Printer to the GOV. & COMPANY. 1726.

ADVERTISEMENT.

[Page]

THERE is now in the Press, and will speedily be Published, A Discourse on Rom. 12. 2. Entituled, True Christianity Explained & Enforced. Wherein are some Objections respecting Conversion Proposed and Answered.

Lately Published, A Discourse, Entituled, Ministers must take heed to their Ministry, to Fu [...]ill it. Delivered at Windham, Aug. 3. [...]726 When Mr. Thomas Clap, was Ordained Pastor of the Church there; with the CHARGE then given to him.

Sold by T. Green at N. London.

Information about this book

Title statement

The good subject's wish or, The desirableness of the Divine presence with civil rulers. Opened & applied in a sermon preached before the General Assembly of the colony of Connecticut, at Hartford, May 12th 1726. The day for electing the Honourable the governour, the deputy-governour, & the worshipful assistants there. / By Phineas Fiske, M.A. Pastor of a church in Haddam, published by orderof authority.

Fiske, Phineas, 1682-1738.

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI :

Date

2008-09.

ID [DLPS]

N02305

ID [TCP]

N02305

ID [STC]

Evans 2741

ID [NOTIS]

APW6323

ID [IMAGE-SET]

2741

ID [EVANS-CITATION]

99012457

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Series

Early American Imprints, 1639-1800 ; no. 2741.

Notes

(Evans-TCP ; no. N02305)

Transcribed from: (Readex Archive of Americana ; Early American Imprints, series I ; image set 2741)

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Source

— The good subject's wish or, The desirableness of the Divine presence with civil rulers. Opened & applied in a sermon preached before the General Assembly of the colony of Connecticut, at Hartford, May 12th 1726. The day for electing the Honourable the governour, the deputy-governour, & the worshipful assistants there. / By Phineas Fiske, M.A. Pastor of a church in Haddam, published by orderof authority., Fiske, Phineas, 1682-1738., Connecticut. General Assembly..

Extent

[4], 38, [2] p. ; 16 cm. (8vo)

Printed & sold by T. Green, printer to the gov. & Company.,. N London [i.e., New London, Conn.], :: 1726.. (Half-title: Mr. Fiske's sermon on the good subject's wish. Delivered at the election, May 12, 1726.) (Bookseller's advertisement, p. [39].)

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