Behold how necessary it is, that a true fear of the Lord 1be planted in mens hearts, in the hearts of Kings and all Governors, in the hearts of subjects and all people, whether superiors or inferiors. Where no fear of God is, there will be no good submission unto man. Abraham 2thought that the men of Gerar would have no respect to him or his wife, nor make conscience of common honesty, nor abstain from innocent blood, because he saw no fear of God in that place: and the Apostle having reckoned up 3many notorious effects of mans natural corruption, concludeth all with this, as the cause of all, There is no fear of God before their eyes. Wherefore let Magistrates, Parents, Masters, and all in authority, have especial care that their subjects, children, servants, and all under them may be taught and brought to fear the Lord. I dare avouch it, that such inferiors which are taught to fear God, will do better service to their superiors, than such as fear their superiors only as men, and fear not God. Let Ministers especially urge and press upon the consciences of men a fear of God. Let all inferiors pray that the fear of the Lord may be planted in the hearts of their superiors, that so they may live a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty under them. Happy is that kingdom where Magistrates and subjects fear the Lord. Happy is that Church where Ministers and people fear the Lord. Happy is that family where husband and wife, parents and children, master and servants fear the Lord. In such a Kingdom, Church, and family, will every one, to the mutual good one of another, submit themselves one to another. But if such as fear not God submit themselves, whether they be superiors or inferiors, it is for their own ends and advantages, and not for their good to whom they submit themselves.
Behold how necessarie it is, that a true feare of the Lord 1be planted in mens hearts, in the hearts of Kings and all Gouernours, in the hearts of subiects and all people, whether superiours or inferiours. Where no feare of God is, there will be no good submission vnto man. Abraham 2thought that the men of Gerar would haue no respect to him or his wife, nor make conscience of common honestie, nor abstaine from innocent bloud, because he saw no feare of God in that place: and the Apostle hauing reckoned vp 3many notorious effects of mans naturall corruption, concludeth all with this, as the cause of all, There is no feare of God before their eyes. Wherefore let Magistrates, Parents, Masters, and all in authoritie, haue especiall care that their subiects, children, seruants, and all vnder them may be taught and brought to feare the Lord. I dare auouch it, that such inferiours which are taught to feare God, will doe better seruiee to their superiours, than such as feare their superiours only as men, and feare not God. Let Ministers especially vrge and presse vpon the consciences of men a feare of God. Let all inferiours pray that the feare of the Lord may be planted in the hearts of their superiours, that so they may liue a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinesse and honestie vnder them. Happie is that kingdome where Magistrates and subiects feare the Lord. Happie is that Church where Ministers and people feare the Lord. Happie is that family where husband and wife, parents and children, master and seruants feare the Lord. In such a Kingdome, Church, and family, will euery one, to the mutuall good one of another, submit themselues one to another. But if such as feare not God submit themselues, whether they be superiours or inferiours, it is for their owne ends and aduantages, and not for their good to whom they submit themselues.
- 1Use. The necessity of a fear of God.Vse. The necessitie of a feare of God.
- 2Gen. 20. 11.
- 3Rom. 3. 11, &c.
