2 r 8 The Duty and Keafon of Vol. I. Befides that there is (as one expreffeth) a kind of Moral Connexion and Com- munication of Evil and of Guilt betwixt Princes and People, fo that they are many times mutually Rewarded for .the Virtues and good Adkins, and Punifhed for the Sins and Faults of one another. Of which proceedings of the Divine Juftice towards the People of Ifrael, there are many remarkable Inftances in Scrip- ture, where God Rewarded the Piety of Good Princes, with great Bleffings upon their People, and Punifht the Perfonal Faults of their Kings with publick Judg- ments upon the wholeNation. So that in truth, it is the greateft Kindnefs and Charity to our felves, to pray for our Princes and Governours ; becaufe our wel- fare is involved in theirs, and we fuffer not only in all the Misfortunes and Ca. !amities which befall them, but many times upon account oftheir Perfonal Faults and Mifcarriages. .Quicquid delirant Reges, pleEluntur Achivi, the Extravagances of Princes are punifht in the Misfortunes of their Subjefts. Thus David, (other- wife a very good King,) finned in Numbring the People, and the Plague fell upon them; he was Punifht in the Calamity of his People. And this was in no wife unjuft, becaufe there are always Sins enough in any Nation to deferve Pu- nifhment, and God may take what occafion he pleafes, to fend his Judgments upon . them that deferve them ; for Princes and People make but one Civil and Politi- cal Body, and what part of it foever is pui ifhed, the other fuffers. And this is the true Ground and Reafon of the Communication of Punifhinents betwixt Princes and People. Another Confideration which fhould engage us to pray for thofe that are in authority, is, that we reap the great Benefit of their Care , and Pains, and Vigilancy for us, under their fhadow We are fafe. Our Innocency and our Rights are protefted by their Power and Laws, and by the juft Punifh- ments which they inflift upon evil doers , and upon thofe who go about to violate our Rights in any kind ; fo that we ought to pray and to praife God for them, as our great BenefaElors, and the chief Inftruments of our Secu- rity and Welfare ; and therefore not only in Duty, but in Mice and Gra- titude , we are bound to with all good to them, and to intercede with God for them', for the Peace and Profperity of their Government, and to blefs God on their behalf : Yea, we ought to do this out oflove to our felves ; becaufe their Good and Profperity is ours, their Goodnefs and Righteoufnefs, their Per- fonal Piety and Virtues extend to us, and have a mighty Influence upon us, to excite and encourage us to follow their good Example, and to go and do likewife. And we ought likewife to do this out of Charity and Compaffion to our Princes and Governours, whofe Condition is in truth rather to be pityed than envied, and whofe high Place and Dignity is much more to be dreaded than defired by a wife Man, confidering how heavy a Burden they fuftain, what Dangers they are continually expofed to, what Cares and Troubles and Cen- fures they daily undergo, for our Safety and Eafe. So that whatever Ambitious and Inconfiderate Men may think, wife Men do certainly know and find by experience, that to difcharge with care and fáithfulnefs all the Parts of a good Governour, is a very difficult and troublefome Province. Inferiour Magiftrates find care and trouble enough , in that finall (hare and part of it which they fuftain ; and if fo, then certainly the Care and Concernment of the whole, muff needs be a heavy Burden indeed ; and what Abilities are fufficient for it, what Shoulders are ftrong enough to ftand under it ? And as upon this account they have they greateft need of our Prayers, for God's Diredion and Affiftance in the difcharge of their highOffice, fo likewife for his powerful Grace to preferve them from Sin and Evil, in the midit of thofe manifold Temptations to which they are continually expofed, in appearance much beyond other Men, from the heighth of their Condition, and the extent of their Power, which are ftrong Temptations to weak Minds, to Pride and Infolency, to Injuftice and Oppreffion; from the abundance of all things, which :Muffler to Luxury and Excefs ; and from the officious fervility of Parafites and Flatterers , who footh them in their Faults, and humour them in their Pallions
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