Shepard - Houston-Packer Collection BV4500 .S43 1657

( A whole1once Caveat many hands ; and like a River that is to water a Countrey, it mull have many flreams : Arad hence they had in the Common-wealth of Ifrael, which was for God, in every City Judges, and in Towns, fuch as were ,over fiftiesand tens, Exod. 18. 5. which ;t feernes continued long, till all fit men for government were taken away; and then Ifaiab 3 3. their condition is lamented. Nov the form ofthis government is not in all Common- wealths alike, the Lord not binding to any ; and hence called °aptheernr`tt arm, an ordinance of men. Hence it is a foolifh vanity to ask a warrant in Scripture forfucha form of Government ; for humane wifdome may teach this, though not in Church, government. Yet this fu- preme and inferiour Government hath been in all King- domes, i Pet. 2. 13 ,I4. to both which fubjeaion is re- quired; to refufe to give it, is to call off the Lords Go- vernment; and there are couched four reafons in that place to prove this. z. i. Do it for the Lords fake, for the name of Chrift ; and that honour andmajefly of Chrifl Clamped on them, fub- mit ; hence call them off, you call by refped unto; nay, the name of Chrift fetus 2. 2. Leraufe they are in the roomof the Lord, to do the work ofthe Lord ; In punifhing evil doers,andfor thepraife of them that do well. It's true, they may abufe their power otherwife ; but yet their power is one thing, and their abufe ofit another. 3 3. tecaufe, this is the will ofChrif, andyou do well in it; andfo you fballffop the mouthes of foolifbmen, apt, to fpeak;agairfl youforfin. 4, 4. Becaufe, this is the liberty ofChriff, vef. 6. andyou are fervants to Chrifi in it ; and to do otherwife is licenti- oufneffe; and their liberty to exempt thernfelves from the power of lawful! authority, was but acloal. of it. For fo it Teems in thofe dayes, Tome held it part of their Chriftian liberty tobe free from all bonds., andPaid, that Chrifl had made them Kings on Earth, &c. So that if they did call ,off fubjeaion, they did call of the name of Chrifl, power of Chrift, will of Chrift, liberty ofChrifl Jefus. Even under heathenMagiflrates ; what then do they that call it off under others ? Pueai. 2. ,rueff, s.- When is Chrifls Government call off in re- fpet of the fupreme power ? nrz Anfrt'. Thole that know the queflions about the power

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