A27016:596
A saint or a brute the certain necessity and excellency of holiness, &c. ...…
A saint or a brute the certain necessity and excellency of holiness, &c. ... / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by R.W. for Francis Tyton, 1662
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
10. Holiness maketh Princes and Rulers a double blessing to their people. It maketh them the more Divine, and bear the more excellent Image of God: How precious is the name of a David, an Hezekiah, a Josiah, a Constantine, a Theodosius, (though they had all their falls) in comparison of the name of a Saul, a Jeroboam, an Ahab, a Nero, a Julian▪ O how sweet is the name of a Godly King in the Subjects mouths? Even those that are enemies to Godliness as in themselves, (because they cannot endure to be curbed and troubled with it) do yet use to admire and honour it in their Kings and Governors. Authority and Holiness conjunct are two such rays of the Heavenly Majesty and Goodness as place man in the state of highest excellency on earth, and make him so much to resemble his Creator, as hath given such the highest place in the esteem and honour of the world, of any mortals: And it is not easy for a people to value such Holy and Pious Princes and Governors too highly, or to be sufficiently thankful for them unto God.
10. Holiness maketh Princes and Rulers a double blessing to their people. It maketh them the more Divine, and bear the more excellent Image of God: How precious is the name of a David, an Hezekiah, a Josiah, a Constantine, a Theodosius, (though they had all their falls) in comparison of the name of a Saul, a Jeroboam, an Ahab, a Nero, a Julian▪ O how sweet is the name of a Godly King in the Subjects mouthes? Even those that are enemies to Godliness as in themselves, (because they cannot endure to be curbed and troubled with it) do yet use to admire and honour it in their Kings and Governours. Authority and Holiness conjunct are two such rayes of the Heavenly Majesty and Goodness as place man in the state of highest excellency on earth, and make him so much to resemble his Creator, as hath given such the highest place in the esteem and honour of the world, of any mortals: And it is not easie for a people to value such Holy and Pious Princes and Governours too highly, or to be sufficiently thankful for them unto God.
1. Holiness effectually teacheth Governors to Rule for God: To set him highest, and make it their work to seek his Glory, and to avoid all selfish contradictory interests; and to own nothing that stands at enmity with his honour: but to judge that they have most happily attained the ends of their Government and lives, if they have promoted the Gospel and Kingdom of Christ, and the work of Holiness in the world.