Hopkins - HP BR75 .H65 1710

nl. v. Jl Sermon Preach'd Jan. ~I. 1669. But yet when the Magiftrate fuall intcrpofc his Authority, and injoyn the very fame. thefe Duties _lie then more prejfing and binding upon our Confcicncics. For then th~ ftrcngth of d1vers Comms.nds is put together into one ; and we are doubly obliged to rhefe Duties, both by tho[e Laws of God which exprcOy require them; and alfo by A - nother Law of God, which requires Obedimu to our Magiftratts. Of this I think, there is no doubt at all made; and therefore, Fourthly; If the thing commanded be indiffirently_ LarPful, and apptar{oto?u; t hat is, if it be in its own N:iture fuch as we may either do it, or not do it without fin~ then arc we to be determined by the Magiftrate's Commands to do what he requires, :1ml t? abftain from what ~e forbid~. .Fo: thou~~ after the Ma~ifi:_rate bath intcrpofcd h1s Authonty, the thmg remains m It felffbll imli/frrmt, yet It no lone:er remains fo, as to our PraCtice; but itisa Sin in us, not to do what lawfully wC may when ·he requires it. For I fi1ppofe a Magiftratc h::tth a greater command over his Subjeas, than any Father hath over his Children, fince the Magifi:ratc is the OJmmo'n F.nhrr, Pater Patri.t; and Children are bound to obey him, rather than their Parents, -when their Commands contradiCt one the other. Now which of you doth not af~ filmc to himfelffhch an Authority over his Child, as to think him bound in Duty, to do th:tt upon your Command, which before you commanded him was mccrly in~ different, and might either be done by him, or nor done? The fame Obedience therefore which you expea from your Children in things indifthenr, the fame yon owe to your Prince, and the Authority thafs over you. . And therefore it is a mofi: abfurd OpiniOn which fomc hav.e taken up, th1t things m thcmfclves indifferent, bccome .Ull!awf1Li when impvfod. As 1f that were unlawful to be done when commanded, which was lawful to be done, even without a Comm:md: or any thing could be lawful, when only permitted; but finful, when enjoyned. And as it is hugely abfurd and irrational, fo it is very dangerous and pernicious: For it cuts the very Sinews, and plucks up the very Roots of Govt:rnmcnt. It c.tfhiers and abrogates the fur greater part of all humane Laws; and abridgerh the Magiftrate's Authority, in ·injoining any thing, but cxprcfs Duties, commanded bcR fore of God. in Scripture. And fee what a wild Confcqnence will follow upon this Tcnent? For if things in~ differently lawful, become finful when impofed, then by the fame Rcafon they muft needs become neceffary, when they are forbidden. And fa confcgnently, whatfoevcr of this N1turc the Magiftrate !hall forbid, Men muft look upon thcmfelves :-JS htJund in Confcicncc to pr:taife: And what Mo,!_{ftrs lie in the Womb of this Confcqnence, any nnderft:tnding Man may at firft glance perc.eive. \Vhat is this, but to f}1e\l the .M:tg;irtratc's Authority backwards; and to give him that Power ovcryourConfciences by his Prl)hibitiom j which you deny to his C;mmands and Injunctions? This Taunt therefore is mofl: ridiculous, mofl: fooiifh , and moft pernicious. \Ne ought then in all things which arc in themfclves ir.dif/(rent, and apprar fo to m, to g ive ready and chearful Obedience to the Commands o('our hwful Map:ifhates, and that for the Lord's fake. And here they are not little Prejndices, nor little In~ convcniencics, becanfc fi1ch a Command croflCth my former Cu!loms, or my prcfcnt Humour, that can fi1perfcdc my Obli,gation. No, nor is it lawful without very great and preffing Reafons, and almoft a Neceffity, to chufc the Pajfivr part of the Command, to undergo the Pmalty rather than fulfil the P,-urpr. And that bcc~mfe the Penalty is only annexed, as the {econdary Will of the M:~gift ratc, to in force the Precept; nor cloth the Law primarily aim at Punifbmmr, but at Cn/"ormity to it. This is tn be accounted the Will of the Magill:rate, whofe Willis ol!r Ob:;,gation in all things that arc lawful and indifferent. And therefore to chnfe the Pa:al, bzfore the PYectptive Part-of Obedience, without very weighty and neceflitating Reafons urging us thereunto, cannot altogether be excufed from Difobcdirnu ; bccaufc it come<~ not up to that Conformity which the Magiftrate pnncipally intends. That's the fourth Pofition. Fifrhly ; If the thing be indifiCrcntly lawful in it felf, but appe:trs d:mbt{ld nnto ns, and we cannot refolvc our fclves whether it be lawful or evil; 1 think we :1.re obliged (till we receive clearer Light and Inform:ttion) to take thet part of the doubt which the Magifrrate commands us, as being the fafeft, and mort fatisfadory to Con.. fcience. And my rcafon is this; Becaufe the Obligation that lies upon us to ,bry the

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