God commandeth Magistrates to be for the good of their subjects,1 Rom. 13.4. For good, that is, for thy natural good in preserving thy life in safety; for thy civil good in securing thine estate; for thy spiritual good in establishing the true worship of God, as a keeper of the first Table; Nay, the way to promote the civil good of a people, is, by promoting their spiritual good. That Common-wealth will certainly stand longest, which hath not State-Policy, but State-Piety for its foundation. How many Nations have confirmed this truth, Ubi non est sanctitas, pietas, fides, instabile regnum est! A Nation without Religion, is like a City without walls, naked and open to all enemies; like a building without a foundation, which will quickly be overthrown. Religion to a people is as the Palladium to the Trojans, as the Ancile to the Romans which kept them safe. The want of this overthrew the great Monarchies of the world. What besides this, hath turned so Kingdoms into ruined heaps, and Cities into solitary Deserts? If a fruitful land be turned into barrenness, is it not for the iniquity of them that dwell therein! Psal. 107.34. Tully observed,2 that the glory of Greece quickly decayed when the people were given to evil opinions, and evil manners. Those Rulers that tolerate heretical persons, do but nourish a Snake in their bosoms, and cherish a worm that in time will eat out their own bowels.
God commandeth Magistrates to be for the good of their subjects,1 Rom. 13.4. For good, that is, for thy natural good in preserving thy life in safety; for thy civil good in securing thine estate; for thy spiritual good in establishing the true worship of God, as a keeper of the first Table; Nay, the way to promote the civil good of a people, is, by promoting their spiritual good. That Common-wealth will certainly stand longest, which hath not State-Policy, but State-Piety for its foundation. How many Nations have confirmed this truth, Ʋbi non est sanctitas, pietas, fides, instabile regnum est! A Nation without Religion, is like a City without walls, naked and open to all enemies; like a building without a foundation, which will quickly be overthrown. Religion to a people is as the Palladium to the Trojans, as the Ancile to the Romans which kept them safe. The want of this overthrew the great Monarchies of the world. What besides this, hath turned so Kingdoms into ruined heaps, and Cities into solitary Deserts? If a fruitful land be turned into barrenness, is it not for the iniquity of them that dwell therein! Psal. 107.34. Tully observed,2 that the glory of Greece quickly decay'd when the people were given to evil opinions, and evill manners. Those Rulers that tolerate heretical persons, do but nourish a Snake in their bosoms, and cherish a worm that in time will eat out their own bowels.
- 1Par. on Rom.
- 2Cicero de legib.
