Nothing is more contrary to the state of Government, or the qualification of a Governor, then to hate right; righteousness is the sphere wherein he ought to walk, and never to move out of it; 'tis the business he hath to do, the trade which he hath to drive; whatsoever he doth in that capacity, he must be doing righteous things. So far as any man hath the power of Government in his hand, if it be but over a family, much more over a Nation, he ought to do right; Davids prayer for himself as a King, and for his son who was to succeed him in the Kingdom, was only and altogether this, (Psal. 72.1.) Give the King thy judgements, O Lord, and thy righteousness unto the Kings son; that is, teach both ⟨p. 614⟩me and him what is right, give us a heart conformable to it, and a readiness of mind always to do it: That's the scope of his prayer when he said, Give the King thy judgements, O Lord, and thy righteousness to the King's son: Nor doth he barely pray for the gift of judgement and righteousness, but he puts the stamp of God upon them; Give them thy judgement, and thy righteousness. It is possible for Kings to have a judgement of their own, and a righteousness of their own, which are not the judgements nor the righteousness of God. For as there is a righteousness of God, which some being ignorant of, trust to a righteousness of their own for the justification of their person; so there is a righteousness of God for the government of man, which some neglecting, use only a righteousness of their own, both in condemning and justifying other mens both persons and causes; Princes being in Gods place, should exalt the righteousness of God in the governing of men. And therefore the same David in his dying song spake thus (2 Sam: 23.3.) He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God; who ever he is he must be just, and he must be just in the fear of God, which he can never be, but in giving out the righteousness of God; that is, in dispensing that for righteousness, which is right according to the will of God. And if he must do right thus, how shall he do it, if he hate it? no man will do that willingly or constantly which he hateth; he that hates right is so far from doing it himself, that he cannot abide others should do it.
Nothing is more contrary to the state of Government, or the qualification of a Governour, then to hate right; righteousness is the sphear wherein he ought to walk, and never to move out of it; 'tis the business he hath to do, the trade which he hath to drive; whatsoever he doth in that capacity, he must be doing righteous things. So far as any man hath the power of Government in his hand, if it be but over a family, much more over a Nation, he ought to do right; Davids prayer for himself as a King, and for his son who was to succeed him in the Kingdom, was only and altogether this, (Psal. 72.1.) Give the King thy judgements, O Lord, and thy righteousness unto the Kings son; that is, teach both ⟨p. 614⟩me and him what is right, give us a heart conformable to it, and a readiness of minde alwayes to do it: That's the scope of his prayer when he said, Give the King thy judgements, O Lord, and thy righteousness to the King's son: Nor doth he barely pray for the gift of judgement and righteousness, but he puts the stamp of God upon them; Give them thy judgement, and thy righteousness. It is possible for Kings to have a judgement of their own, and a righteousness of their own, which are not the judgements nor the righteousness of God. For as there is a righteousness of God, which some being ignorant of, trust to a righteousness of their own for the justification of their person; so there is a righteousness of God for the government of man, which some neglecting, use only a righteousness of their own, both in condemning and justifying other mens both persons and causes; Princes being in Gods place, should exalt the righteousnesse of God in the governing of men. And therefore the same David in his dying song spake thus (2 Sam: 23.3.) He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the feare of God; who ever he is he must be just, and he must be just in the feare of God, which he can never be, but in giving out the righteousnesse of God; that is, in dispensing that for righteousnesse, which is right according to the will of God. And if he must doe right thus, how shall he doe it, if he hate it? no man will doe that willingly or constantly which he hateth; he that hates right is so farre from doing it himselfe, that he cannot abide others should doe it.