A77844:66
The magistrates commission from heaven. Declared in a sermon preached in Laurence Jury, London, the…The magistrates commission from heaven. Declared in a sermon preached in Laurencejury, London, the…
The magistrates commission from heaven. Declared in a sermon preached in Laurence Jury, London, the 28. day of Sept. 1644. at the election of the Lord Major. / By Anthony Burgess, sometimes fellow of Immanuel College in Cambridge; now pastor of Sutton Coldfield in Warwick shire, and a member of the Assembly. Imprimatur Thomas Gataker.The magistrates commission from heaven. Declared in a sermon preached in Laurencejury, London, the 28. day of Sept. 1644. at the election of the Lord Major. / By Anthony Burgesse, sometimes fellow of Immanuel Colledge in Cambridge; now pastour of Sutton Coldfield in Warwick shire, and a member of the Assembly. Imprimatur Thomas Gataker.
London: printed by George Miller for Thomas Underhill, 1644London: printed by George Miller for Thomas Vnderhill, 1644
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.
Use 2 In the next place,Is it so that Magistracy is appointed for our good, then let us humble our selves under the consideration of the abuse of Government that hath been heretofore in our Kingdom and Nation, the abuse of it, I say; here (says the Apostle) if thou dost evil be afraid: Oh beloved, were not the times, when men to ⟨p. 19⟩do good were afraid? were not the times, when if men prayed fervently, and when men preached powerfully, and when men stood for the public good of the Kingdom; when they did these good things, were they not afraid? how terrible is it therefore, when the Nature and the Office of Government is altered, when men to do good were afraid; and when men that did evil were not afraid, nor discouraged: when the Text now is altered, in stead of being a Minister of God to men for good, when Magistrates and Governors shall become Ministers of Satan for the evil and hurt of men, this is terrible.
Ʋse 2 In the next place,Is it so that Magistracie is appointed for our good, then let us humble our selves under the consideration of the abuse of Government that hath been heretofore in our Kingdome and Nation, the abuse of it, I say; here (saies the Apostle) if thou dost evill be afraid: Oh beloved, were not the times, when men to ⟨p. 19⟩doe good were afraid? were not the times, when if men prayed fervently, and when men preached powerfully, and when men stood for the publike good of the Kingdome; when they did these good things, were they not afraid? how terrible is it therefore, when the Nature and the Office of Government is altered, when men to doe good were afraid; and when men that did evill were not afraid, nor discouraged: when the Text now is altered, in stead of being a Minister of God to men for good, when Magistrates and Governors shall become Ministers of Satan for the evill and hurt of men, this is terrible.
Use 3 In the third place, let us be thankful,when the Lord raises up Magistracy for all these ends that we spake of: Let us bless God for the Parliament, for those Worthies that have been raised up, that have eased us of many burdens and superstitions. All Government it is a mercy, but now when they are raised up so, as to be effectual in a Reformation, and in working the will of God, this is much more. Beloved, any kind of Government is better then no Government. There was a Law amongst the Persians, that when their Governor was dead, there should be [Greek or Hebrew] there should be a lawlessness for five days after, that every man should do what he would: now for those five days there was such killing and robbing, and such destroying one another, that by the time the five days were over, they were glad of a Government again. So that I say, we are to bless God for all Government, how much rather now when it is raised up for our good, and happiness: And so likewise the City is to bless God for the vigilancie and prudence of Governors: for the peace it hath been kept in, in the midst of these great confusions, troubles that have been abroad; that such a City as this is should be so quiet, in such times of Civill wars and of great ruins: here we are to acknowledge the mercy of God.