284 RUIN AND RECOVERY, &C. vigorous endeavours to maintain his Maker's image and favour, than any single person could be, who had only his own happiness to take care of. By this means all the springs of benevolence and compassion to fellow- creatures, and all the ten- derness of paternal love and pityto a numerous offspring, both which principles doubtless were very strong in innocent man, were awakened and set at work to guard against sin, as as well at the powers and motives of self-love, and all the principles of self-preservation : So that this constitution of God had not only justice and equity in it, but goodness and kindness. 3. Let it be considered also, that this is a common thing among men, for one person to be a natural representative, and as it were, to become a trustee or a surety for his posterity thereby ; by which means they enjoy or sustain the honours or the dishonours, the riches or the poverty, which the merit or crime of their forefather hath procured. If a subject receive from his prince the honour of nobility, and be made an earl upon the account of his merit, together with the royal endowment of a large estate to support the honour, this estate and this honour will descend together to the latest posterity, and the eldest male of his family in all ages is an earl, and enjoys the estate which is 'annexed to. the title. But on the other hand, if a nobleman rebel against his king, and is attainted of high treason, or proved guilty and condemned, he loses his estate and his honour toge- ther, he loses the favour of his prince at court, and that nobility which is the image of his prince; and together with him all his posterity are cut off from their pretensions to the honour andthe estate Nor is this ever counted unrighteous dealing among the governors of the world, why then should it be imputed as un- righteous to the great God who is the Supreme Governor -of all worlds ? 4. Imight add also in the last place, that even where a per- son is not the natural head or fountain of life to others, yet he may be made their common legal or federal head, their represen- tative or surety to act for them, so that they shall enjoy the benefits of his loyalty and prudence, if he behave and act well, or shall suffer many miseries if he be guilty of rebellion or folly. Is not a member of parliament made the representative of the whole county or town, and entrusted with the liberties of those whom he represents ? If he assist in making good laws, the town or county enjoys the benefit of them ; but if he join with chers. to give up his own and their liberties to the hand of 'a tyrant, they also become slaves together with himself. So a plenipotentiary is sent from a republic, suppose from Holland or Venice, to transact affairs of war or peace, and the whole coin- Mutiny which made him their representative, either obtain great.
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