Caryl - Houston-Packer Collection BS1415 .C37 v8

Chap. 29. An Expofstion upon be RookofJ o s. Verf. 8. ofrifng and,f anding up when the Judge, efpecially if he be a chief Magifirate, paffeth bywith his attendants to the, place of Judicature. Hence Note. 'Tis the duty ofall to honour Magiflrates. This duty is required in the fourth Commandment, we muff' honour our civili Father, the Father of our Country, as well as our natural Father, the Father of the Family. The Scripture doth not only command fubjeetion to the Higher Powers, but reverence and refpe6t ('Zgm. a 3.7.) Render therefore to all their dues, Tribute to whomTribute is due, Ctsflome to whom Cuflorne, fear to whom feir, honour to whom honour. Our Obligation to this duty is g rounded upon three Confiderations. Firfi, Magifirates are tobe honoured.as theyare Gods Depu- ties and Vice-gerents ; For as they are ordainedbyGod, fo they are in the place of God, and exe cite his power by Deputa tion. r. Secondly, Magifirates are fet up for the Common good of mankind. Daniel expounding Nebuchadnezzars Dreame, who was the greatefl Prince of the whole World,tells him, He was the tree whole leaves werefair, and'whofe fruit much, and in it was meatfor all únder which the Beall: ofthefield dwelt, andupon whofe branches theFowls of theHeaven bad their habitation. And as he, fo all Magifirates (in their capacity )' are fuch a tree,to all their fubjeets,.yielding-them refrefhingfood and defence.. Therefore they are tobe reverenced, and to have refpeet from all. Thirdly,God hath put (as was toucht before )' his own name .upon them, 1 have faid ye are godi ( Pfal. 82.6.) As Parafites in bare flattery and complyance with their pride, have vainlycal- led forceof t hem fo, and as dome Princes have moll wickedly and blafphemouflÿ affeeted to be called,yea to be adored as Gods ( God will take highefi vengeance upon all thole who take his name upon them, or fubmit toit when given them) fo God'him- felf hathput his own name upon Magifirates, to mind them of their duty, or for a twofold end ; Firfi, that being called'Gods,they Should judge and rule as God doth, or with a mind like God,free from the mixture of a private or paffìonate fpirit, and filled with a love to and a delight in impartial Judg.meat 'and righteoufnefs. Secondly,

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