and would have all men prefer the Law and honour of God to theirs; where the Righteous bear rule, the people rejoice. The wisdom, piety, and impartiality of their Governors suppresseth profaneness, oppression, and contention, and keepeth men in the way of love and peace; and as the welfare of all is the care of such a Ruler above his own pleasure, wealth, or will, so he will have the hearts, and hands, and wealth of all with readiness to serve him: No wonder if such are called Nursing Fathers, and the light of our eyes, and the breath of our Nostrils, and the shadow of a rock in a weary Land. As they bear the Image of Gods Supereminency, and doubly honour him, they are doubly honoured by him; so that the names of pious Princes show not only the sense of Mankind, but the special providence of God in making the memory of the Just to be blessed: And as they could not endure to see in their days, ungodliness triumph, or serious godliness made a scorn, or Conscience and fear of sinning made a disgrace, or the Gospel hindered and faithful Ministers forbid to preach it; so God will not suffer their ⟨p. 29⟩Consciences to want the sense of his Love, nor their departing Souls to fail of their everlasting hopes, nor their memories to be clouded by obscurity or reproach. Even among Heathens; What a name have those Emperors left behind them, who lived in justice, charity, and all virtue, and wholly studied the good of all? What a wonder is it that M. Antonine should be so extolled by so many Writers, and not one of them all, that I remember, speak one word of evil of him; save that a small and short persecution of the Christians was made by some in his time, till he restrained it? And all the people almost deified him, and would have perpetuated his Line and Name in the Throne, but that the horrid wickedness of his Posterity forced them to a change. What a name hath excellent Alexander Severus left behind him? And what a blessing have wise and godly and peacemaking Christian Princes been in divers ages to the world?
and would have all men prefer the Law and honour of God to theirs; where the Righteous bear rule, the people rejoyce. The wisdom, piety, and impartiality of their Governours suppresseth prophaneness, oppression, and contention, and keepeth men in the way of love and peace; and as the welfare of all is the care of such a Ruler above his own pleasure, wealth, or will, so he will have the hearts, and hands, and wealth of all with readiness to serve him: No wonder if such are called Nursing Fathers, and the light of our eyes, and the breath of our Nostrils, and the shaddow of a rock in a weary Land. As they bear the Image of Gods Supereminency, and doubly honour him, they are doubly honoured by him; so that the names of pious Princes shew not only the sense of Mankind, but the special providence of God in making the memory of the Just to be blessed: And as they could not indure to see in their days, ungodliness triumph, or serious godliness made a scorn, or Conscience and fear of sinning made a disgrace, or the Gospel hindred and faithful Ministers forbid to preach it; so God will not suffer their ⟨p. 29⟩Consciences to want the sense of his Love, nor their departing Souls to fail of their everlasting hopes, nor their memories to be clouded by obscurity or reproach. Even among Heathens; What a name have those Emperours left behind them, who lived in justice, charity, and all virtue, and wholly studied the good of all? What a wonder is it that M. Antonine should be so extolled by so many Writers, and not one of them all, that I remember, speak one word of evil of him; save that a small and short persecution of the Christians was made by some in his time, till he restrained it? And all the people almost deified him, and would have perpetuated his Line and Name in the Throne, but that the horrid wickedness of his Posterity forced them to a change. What a name hath excellent Alexander Severus left behind him? And what a blessing have wise and godly and peacemaking Christian Princes been in divers ages to the world?
