The Morning exercise [at] Cri[ppleg]ate, or, Several cases of conscience practically resolved

Besides, let not men deceive themselves, for such persons as can so easily betray the interest of God, will never be afraid, if opportunity serve, to oppose the sovereignty of man, whose authority he bears, and are not indeed Hushai's, but Ziba's, not Davids friends, but Davids flatterers.

Besides, let not men deceive themselves, for such persons as can so easily betray the interest of God, will never be afraid, if opportunity serve, to oppose the soveraignty of man, whose authority he bears, and are not indeed Hushai's, but Ziba's, not Davids friends, but Davids flatterers.

4. By sufferance, by permitting the sins of others, so we become guilty, by suffering others to sin, whom we are bound in duty, and may be able by authority to hinder: and thus as in the former particular, we are guilty of Magistrates sins, in this particular Magistrates oft-times become guilty of our sins. Kings and Rulers, and subordinate Magistrates become oft-times deeply guilty of their peoples sins, namely, by sufferance, by tolerating Errors, and Heresies, and Blasphemies on the one hand, or by suffering wickedness and profaneness on the other.

4. By sufferance, by permitting the sins of others, so we become guilty, by suffering others to sin, whom we are bound in duty, and may be able by authority to hinder: and thus as in the former particular, we are guilty of Magistrates sins, in this particular Magistrates oft-times become guilty of our sins. Kings and Rulers, and subordinate Magistrates become oft-times deeply guilty of their peoples sins, namely, by sufferance, by tolerating Errours, and Heresies, and Blasphemies on the one hand, or by suffering wickednesse and profanenesse on the other.

That Ruler or Magistrate that shall suffer either loose opinions, or principles, that are contrary to sound doctrine, to be broached, or loose ways and customs, that are contrary to the power of godliness, to be observed, and shall not use his authority to prevent and suppress them, he contracts to himself the guilt, and draws upon himself the mischief of all those Sins and Enormities: Just as he that licences a Book to the Press, if there be any faults of ignorance, or error, or poisonous opinions, they may be justly charged upon him and laid at his door, though he is not the author, yet because he is the licencer, though he is not the Parent, yet because he is the midwife. So if there be any heresy and blasphemy tolerated in a place, if there be any profaneness and ungodliness suffered among a people, because it has the Magistrates Imprimatur, and he suffers it to pass the Country without whipping, therefore he's highly guilty.