A66096:58
[The character] of a good ruler as it was recommended in a sermon [preached before] His Excellency the Governor, and the honoura[ble] counsellors, and assembly of the representatives of the Province of Massachusetts Bay in New-England : [on] May 30. 1694 : [which was the day] for election of [counsellors] for that province / by Samuel [Willard] ...[The character] of a good ruler as it was recommended in a sermon [preached before] His Excellency the Governour, and the honoura[ble] counsellors, and assembly of the representatives of the Province of Massachusetts Bay in New-England : [on] May 30. 1694 : [which was the day] for election of [counsellors] for that province / by Samuel [Willard] ...
Boston: printed by Benjamin Harris for Michael Perry, 1694
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.
Carry this with you, & let it Rule in the making of Laws: let the Word of GOD be consulted, and the Common Utility of the Subject be designed: For, though there be not a Body of Civil Laws drawn up in the Scriptures, to which every Polity is to be confined, yet there are sufficient general directions, & Rules, to be gathered from thence; which may Regulate in this Affair.
Carry this with you, & let it Rule in the making of Laws: let the Word of GOD be consulted, and the Common Utility of the Subject be designed: For, though there be not a Body of Civil Laws drawn up in the Scriptures, to which every Pol•ity is to be confined, yet there are sufficient general directions, & Rules, to be gathered from thence; which may Regulate in this Affair.
Take heed of any Sinister Aims in whatsoever Laws do pass: Laws made do strengthen a particular separate Interest, never did Good, but Hurt to a Body-Politic: that which may serve the present turn, may in a little time prove more Mischievous, than ever it was Advantageous. Remember, you cannot Repeal such Laws, when you will, or when you have advanced a design with them. Look then forward to the after Issues. It will be no small Aggravation of our Trouble, to be Wounded with a Shaft of our own making. Look for Changes in a World of Mutability, and lay in, as far as innocent Prudence may direct, for your Own, and your Peoples Safety.
Take heed of any Sinister Aims in whatsoever Laws do pass: Laws made do strengthen a particular separate Interest, never did Good, but Hurt to a Body-Politick: that which may serve the present turn, may in a little time prove more Mischievous, than ever it was Advantageous. Remember, you cannot Repeal such Laws, when you will, or when you have advanced a design with them. Look then forward to the after Issues. It will be no small Aggravation of our Trouble, to be Wounded with a Shaft of our own making. Look for Changes in a World of Mutability, and lay in, as far as innocent Prudence may direct, for your Own, and your Peoples Safety.
Keep to this also in all your Administration or Application of Laws. Maintain a good Conscience in it, and let the Fear of God, and a Principle of Justice make you […] lay aside all Sinister Respects. Let not Persons but Things Sway you in all your Dispensations; and when the case is the same, let the same sentence proceed from •ou: let neither Riches nor Poverty turn the Scale; neither Friendship nor Enmity Spoil the Sentence. Take no Gift in secret ⟨p. 28⟩to stop or Pervert Justice; nor misapply your power to take private or personal Revenge. When Cases are plain, do not obscure them; and when they are dubious Search them out: and let not flattery or Impudence prevail over you, but take his advice in 2. Chron 16. 9. Thus shall you do in the fear of the Lord, faithfully, and with a perfect heart, Deal courageously, and the Lord shall be with the good.
Keep to this also in all your Administration or Application of Laws. Maintain a good Conscience in it, and let the Fear of God, and a Principle of Justice make you 〈…〉 lay aside all Sinister Respects. Let not Persons but Things Sway you in all your Dispensations; and when the case is the same, let the same sentence proceed from •ou: let neither Riches nor Poverty turn the Scale; neither Friendship nor Enmity Spoil the Sentence. Take no Gift in secret ⟨p. 28⟩to stop or Pervert Justice; nor misapply your power to take private or personal Revenge. When Cases are plain, do not obscure them; and when they are dubious Search them out: and let not flattery or Impudence prevail over you, but take his advice in 2. Chron 16. 9. Thus shall you do in the fear of the Lord, faithfully, and with a perfect heart, Deal couragiously, and the Lord shall be with the good.
Remember the cause is Gods, and he will have the calling of it over again; where he will either applaud your fidelity, or condemn your unfaithfulness.
Do so also in your Exemplary conversation. Do not do that your selves, which you ought in Duty, and oath, to punish in others; Embolden not wicked men to transgress by your example, and to excuse themselves upon your account. That Man who Will Violate the Laws which He is to Rule by, will soon neglect to Exec••• them on others, and bring reproach on himself where he doth.
3 Let it afford matter of Instruction •• us all.
Are these the Eminent Qualifications of good Rulers? it is no small concern that we have in this affair. It tells us that we ought Earnestly to Pray to God that we may have such always: and we pray for our selves when we so do.
Whatsoever other influence we may have into the appointment of those that are to Govern us, there is none that can hinder us of this but our selves. God Overrules the L•t, he Determines the Hearts of men, and he can make men after his own Heart: he Presides over every Election; and if we can prevail with him by importunate Prayer, our business is done. It is one of the Blessings that he will be sought unto for, by the House of Israel.
It calls us to be thankful to him for such when he bestows them upon us. God •ot a little displays his kindness to a people, when it is thus; and expects their gratitude to him for so Comprehensive a Mercy: there is nothing will sooner lose […] benefit than Ingratitude.
It calls us to be thankful to him for such when he bestows them upon us. God •ot a little displays his kindness to a people, when it is thus; and expects their gratitude to him for so Comprehensive a Mercy: there is nothing will sooner lose 〈…〉 benefit than Ingratitude.
Let us Encourage them that are such, and that by […] Cheerful acknowledgement ⟨p. 30⟩of them, Contentation under them, and candid Interpretation of them.
Let us Encourage them that are such, and that by 〈…〉 Cheerful acknowledgment ⟨p. 30⟩of them, Contentation under them, and candid Interpretation of them.
We are Governed by men of like infirmities with ourselves, wonder not if sometimes they discover something of them: but when we know that their cordial endeavours are to do that which is right, and promote o•r peaceable and Godly Living, let thi• please us.
We are Governed by men of like infirmitis with ourselves, wonder not if sometimes they discover something of them: but when we know that their cordial endeavours are to do that which is right, and promote o•r peacable and Godly Living, let thi• please us.
And beware of Murmurings; GOD will not take it well of us, and can easily let us know a difference: and it is an Observation that seldom misseth; That they who are most addicted to, are soonest weary of Changes.
In a Word, let us beware lest we provoke an Holy and Jealous God to anger so as to give us men of another Spirit to Rule over us, or to withdraw His Spirit from them that do, and leave them to do things inconvenient.
Evil Rulers, and the Male-Administrations of good ones, are punishments which GOD doth inflict on a people that have provoked him to Anger against them, GOD gave Saul to Israel in his Wrath; and he left David ⟨p. 31⟩to Number the people because His Anger was kindled against Israel.
If we Apostatise from GOD, and grow weary of his ways, he knows how to Scourge us after this manner; and hath, not seldom, done so by his people on such occasions.
But if we be a people Fearing GOD and Keeping of His Commandments, He will Delight in us to Bless us, and to do us Good: and to give us Rulers after his own Prescription, Just Men, and Ruling •n the Fear of God.
