Chrijlialtity the greatejt help to l(jngdoms. is greater reafon _rhat wdhould obey the higher powers no ~arther. than our Loyalty to God will [ive leave. But tf men pretend Gods commands for any tlung wh1ch he cornmandeth not, Mlgi– llntes bear not the fword in vain, and fubjeCts are commandc:d by God nor to refill : If they pu– ni01 them rightfully, God will bear the Rulers out io it: If they puni(h them wrongfully or pcrfecute them for well-doing, God will feverely punilh them, who fo wronged his fubjdits and abufcd the authority which he committed to their trufi. §· 86. 3· The Chrifiian Rdigionbindethfubjects to obedimce upon forer penalties than M•gi– flrates can inflict; even ~p~n pain of Gods ~ifpleafure, and ~vcrhfiing damnation, Rflm. 1 3. 2 , 3 • And how great a help this IS ro Government H IS (o eafie to dtfcern, that the fimplcr fort of Acheitts do pcrfwadc thcmfelves_, that King~ devifed Religion to l_<cep people in o_bedience w"irh the fears vf He11. Take away the fears of the life trJ come and the pun1lhment of ~od'n Hell upon the wicked) and the world will be turned into worf~ than a den of Serpents and wild beatls: adulteries and murders and poyfoning Kings and all abomination will be freely committed, which wit or power can think to cover or bear out ! \Vho will null that man that believeth not that God doth judge and punith. ~- s 7 • 4 . The C~rifiian Relig~on d?th enco:tr.Jge ob~ditnce and peace ~irh the P~omife of the Re– ward of endlefs happmcls ( uteruparzbiH) : Heaven IS more than any Pnnce can ~1ve. If that will nor move men, there is no greater thing to move them. 4thei[m and Infidelity have no fuch motives. 9· 88. 5· Chriaianity tcacheth fubjects to obey not only good Rulmbut bad ones, even Heathens themfelvcs and not to refill when we cannot obey. Whereas among Heathens, Princes ruled no longer than they pleafed the Souldiers or the people; fo that LampridiuJmuveiled that Heliogaba/Ju was no {oonn butchered but fuffcred to nign three years : Mirum fortaffe cstipiJm videatur Cl}nji:antine vene33 rabi/U, quodh~c cladtJ quam. retu!i loco principum. fuerit ; & quidem prop~ trie~i"'. ita u~ mmD invtntiH cim" faith, fmrit qui iftum a gubemaculu Romon:m.e ma;c(i:am abducerrt, cum Ntrom, VlleUt!J, Cahgul.e c~trrifque thar ~very hujufrnodi nunquam tyramziceda dtfuerit. . Goo? m~n ~· s 9 • 6. Chrijlianity and Godiittefi do not only re!ham the outward aCh, but rule the very hearts ;;a~ Jn hiS and Jay :1 charge upon the thoughts, which the power of Princes can_not re.ach. .It forbiddeth to curf~ me~;~' ~;i~s the King in our bed-chamber, or to have a thought or defire of ev1l agamfi htm : It quencherh the him lay, one firf\ fp.uks of diOoyalty and diforder: And the rule of the outward man followerh the ordering of t~1:u kt!led the heart: And therefore Atheifrn which leaveth the Heart free and open to all defirer and dejigne 1 of C4t~r. tebellion) doth kindle that tire in the minds of men, which Government cannot quench ! It cor~ rupreth the fountain, It brcaketh the fpring that Ulould fer all a going. It poifonerh the heart of Common-wealths. 9· 90 • 7· Chrifiianity and Godlinefs teach men Patitnce, that it may not ft"em firange ·to them to bear the Crofs, and fuller injuries from high and low: And therefore that Impatience which is 1 Pet. 4 . ti. the beginning of all rebellion being repreffed, it flayeth the diflemper from going any further. 9, ll'· 3. Chriflianity reacheth men feif-dmyal as a great part of their religion : And when{elf- Luk- 14 • '9' iflmt[s is mortified, there is ?othing.le~t to be a principle of R_cbellion againfi God or our fuperiors: H• Seljijhnefiisthevcry predommant pnnc,pleof the u11godly: It IS _only for •hcmfe/vu that they obey whea they do obey; No wonder therefore tf the Author of Levutban allow men to do any thing wheo the faving of themklves requireth it. And fo many folfiftJ perfons as there be in a Kingdom, fo many feverallnterdi:s are tirf\ fought, which for the moft pnt eland crofs to the Intercfts of others: The God~y have all one common cenrer: They unite in God, and therefore m1y he kept in concord : For Gods will is a thing that may be fulfilled by all as well as one : Bnr the feljijh and u11~0dly are every ?ne hi~ own Center, and hue no commm center to unice in) their incerells being ordinarily crofs and 111conlilh:nt. 9· 92 , 9• Chriflianity teachcth men by moll dLClull arguments, tofet light by the Ricbu and honouri of ~ht! world, and not to Hnve for fuper10 :Hy l but to mmd lu5hcr tht~g;, and Jay up our u 11 gebantur treafure m a bener world, and to condefcend to men of low degree ! h forb1ddeth men to exalt Reges non fl(t thernfdves lefl: they be brought low ; and comma.ndeth them to humble themfelves that God may dominum.' fed exalt them : And he that knowet.h not that Pride ~nd Covetoufnefi are the gre~t ~ifquieters of the ~~ldce~it~;~~ wmld, and the caufc of contentions an.d the rum_e_ of States, knowe.th norhmg of rhefe matters. cxifl~renr, & Therefore if it were but by the great urgmg of hmmhty and heavenly mm.dedmji, and the firict con- p:~ulo po!l ab demning of Ambi(ion and Earthly·mindednefs, Chrifii~nity a~d Godlincfs mutt needs be rhe greatefi un8:onbus,. prefervers of Government, and of order, peace and qutetncfs m the World. non pro v_en ~· 93· J c. Chril1:ianiry teacherh men to live in r.he Love ~f.God and m~n ! It maketh Love the ;~~~;~~;~~~~~~; very heart, and life, and fum and md of all other duoes of Rehgton. Faith H felf is but the bellows •liis elcftis to kindle in us tht f.tcrcd flames of Love. Love is the end of the Gofpel, and the fulfilling of the tr~ciQTlbu~. Lan:. ToLove all S.tints with a fpecial Love, even with a pwe heart and fervently, and ro Love all G~~d.-ts de ex;. men hcanily with a common love; To love our Neighbouras our fclves; and to Love our very ene~ 1111 t. nzie1; this i~ the liic which Chrifi rrquireth, !...~pon the penalty of damnation ; And if Love thus prevail, what 010ulrl diHUJb the Governmeur) peace or order of the world? 1· 94· 11. ChriHianity ceacheth men to be exaCl in Jull:icc, difhibutive and comrrmtative ; and to do w oth~rs as we would (hey 1hou1ddo to us : Ancl where this is followed Kings and Stares will have little to mrlelt them , wh<.n Gem fine ju}tilid cjlfine remige navU in undft• • §. 95• 12. Cbriilianiry tcacheth men to do good to all men as far as we are able, and to abound m good works as that for which we are Redeemed and new made.: And if men will fet rhemfelves wholly to do good, and be hurtful and injurious to none, how eafie will it be to govern fuch? 9-96•
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