Chap. 29. An Expof :tion upon the Book of Jò B. Vert. zi. 59r their honour. Some weake Princes have been very happy and fucceffefull in their Government, when, as they have had awife Councel, fo they have been willing to be advifed by them ; but this is rather to be governed then to be a governour. And ufualdy thofe Princes who have been weakeft to give good counfel, have been ( for infiance Behcboam, 1 Kings 1a. 8. ) molt wilful! in re- futingit. And therefore the Lord threatens it as a fore Judgment upon the Jewifh Nation (Ifa. 3. 4.) 1 will give children to be their Princes, and Babes ¡ball rule over them. Whichmay be un- derftood either ofchildren in age, who as yet have not attained to any maturity of years, much Ieffe of wifdome and underffanding to lead the people under them ; or of children indifpofition, who the older they are, the worfer they are,becaufe the moreaverfe to receive impreffions from the counfel of thofe who are truly wifiï and experienced in publick affaires.Of both or either of aide forts ofchildren, we may expound that of the kinglÿPreacher (Ecc!. to. i 6.) Woe unto thee 0 Land, when thy King is a Child, being either unfit to give or unwilling to receive good counfel when 'tic given Jefus Chrift who is King ofKings and Lord of Lords, and who bath the government upon his ¡boulders (Ifa. 9. 6. ) hath this put by the Prophet among his otherRoyall Titles, The Cour.d feller ; As Jefus Chrift is The Prince of peace, fo the C'ounfeller ; as hebath all power,fo he is able to manage ir,he can give coun- fel as well as commands to all his people. And doubtleffe, 'Cis a great bleffing toNations when men of power are alío men of counfel) and able todire& ; when they who fir at the helme know which way to fteere, and how both tomake their owncourfe and the courfeoftheir people under them. Thirdly, Obferve, k it the duty of the people quietly to Waite for a ad receive the counfel ofthofe that are in pewer over them. lobs people came to him for counfel, yea they waited for it, and kept filence when they had it. Here's the pi&ure of a good Prince, and the pit`ftlreofa good people; the Prince is giving counfel, and thepeo,>le are attending him to receive it, And I may adde, here's all() the picture of a good Paflour, of gracious Mini. iker,and ofa godly reople.The Paftonr is to give counfel from the Lord, in the great affaires ofetertnal life, according to the foule Hate
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