The things required unto the administration of their government, are justice, and love, the which must be tempered the one with the other, that love may moderate and sweeten justice, and justice may keep love unpartial and upright, lest our actions savouring of nothing but justice, ⟨p. 342⟩seem rigorous, and expose us to hatred; and love not guided nor backed by justice, degenerate into doting fondness, and so expose us to contempt; whereas both rightly mixed the one with the other, will cause reverence and obedience. The which mixture must be used in all our actions towards all under our government, although these virtues are to be exercised diversly, and the one to be more manifested then the other, according to occasion, time, persons, and deserts. For though we ought to love all, yet those especially who excel in Gods graces, and profit most in all religious, Christian, and civill duties; and to such, our love must be most manifested, to encourage them to go on in their good courses, and to draw others to follow their example. The which was Davids practice, as he professeth; who, though he were indifferently just towards all his subjects, yet his love exceeded towards the faithful of the land, and those which walked 1in a perfect way. But especially our love and justice must appear in our rewards and chastisements, which are the main bonds and very sinews of government. We must reward those who deserve well, partly by our words, commending their good actions, which is a great encouragement to well-doing, as the Apostle implieth, when he useth it as a reason to persuade inferiors to their duty; Do that which is good (saith he) and thou shalt have praise of the same; the which, our Saviour will use to 2his servants at the last day; Well done, good and faithful servant, thou hast 3been faithful over a few things, &c. And partly by deeds, the which must savour both of justice, in giving them their due wages, and of love and bounty, by giving according to our ability, gifts, to encourage them in their well-deserving. Chastisements also must be used towards them, who will not otherwise be reclaimed from their faults, nor kept in due order, either in words only, by gentle or more sharp reproofs, according to the quality of the offence, or by stripes, when nothing else will serve.
The things required vnto the administration of their gouernement, are iustice, and loue, the which must be tempered the one with the other, that loue may moderate and sweeten iustice, and iustice may keepe loue vnpartiall and vpright, lest our actions sauouring of nothing but iustice, ⟨p. 342⟩seeme rigorous, and expose vs to hatred; and loue not guided nor backed by iustice, degenerate into doting fondnesse, and so expose vs to contempt; whereas both rightly mixed the one with the other, will cause reuerence and obedience. The which mixture must bee vsed in all our actions towards all vnder our gouernement, although these vertues are to bee exercised diuersly, and the one to be more manifested then the other, according to occasion, time, persons, and deserts. For though we ought to loue all, yet those especially who excell in Gods graces, and profit most in all religious, Christian, and ciuill duties; and to such, our loue must bee most manifested, to incourage them to go on in their good courses, and to draw others to follow their example. The which was Dauids practice, as he professeth; who, though he were indifferently iust towards all his subiects, yet his loue exceeded towards the faithfull of the land, and those which walked 1in a perfect way. But especially our loue and iustice must appeare in our rewards and chastisements, which are the mayne bonds and very sinewes of gouernement. We must reward those who deserue well, partly by our words, commending their good actions, which is a great incouragement to well-doing, as the Apostle implyeth, when hee vseth it as a reason to perswade inferiours to their duty; Doe that which is good (saith he) and thou shalt haue praise of the same; the which, our Sauiour will vse to 2his seruants at the last day; Well done, good and faithfull seruant, thou hast 3beene faithfull ouer a few things, &c. And partly by deeds, the which must sauour both of iustice, in giuing them their due wages, and of loue and bounty, by giuing according to our ability, gifts, to incourage them in their well-deseruing. Chastisements also must be vsed towards them, who will not otherwise be reclaimed from their faults, nor kept in due order, either in words only, by gentle or more sharpe reproofes, according to the quality of the offence, or by stripes, when nothing else will serue.
- 1Psal. 102. 6.
- 2Rom. 13. 3.
- 3Mat. 25. 23.
