N00581:32
The character of a good ruler. As it was recommended in a sermon preached…
The character of a good ruler. As it was recommended in a sermon preached before His Excellency the governor, and the Honourable 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 councillors for that province. / By Samuel Willard, teacher of a church in Boston.The character of a good ruler. As it was recommended in a sermon preached before His Excellency the governour, and the Honourable 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 councellors for that province. / By Samuel Willard, teacher of a church in Boston.
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.
Again, he must be one that respects the Cause, and not the persons in all his Administrations, Deut. 1. 17. Ye shall not respect Persons in Judgment, &c. if his Affections Oversway his Judgment at any time, they will be a crooked Bias, that will turn him out of the way, and that shall be Justice in one mans case, which will not be so in another.
Again, he must be one that respects the Cause, and not the persons in all his Administrations, Deut. 1. 17. Ye shall not respect Persons in Judgment, &c. if his Affections Oversway his Judgment at any time, they will be a crooked Biass, that will turn him out of the way, and that shall be Justice in one mans case, which will not be so in another.
Farthermore, he must be one whom neither Flattery nor Bribery may be able to remove out of his way, Deut. 16. 19. Thou shalt not wrest Judgment, thou shalt not Respect Persons, neither take a Gift; and hence he must be one who hates both Ambition and Covetousness, Exod. 18. 21. Hating Covetousness; which word signifies, a Greedy Desire, and is applicable to both the fore cited Vices: for if these Rule him, he will never be a just Ruler.
Finally, he must be one who prefers the public Benefit above all private and separate Interests whatsoever. Every man in his place, owes himself to the good of the whole […] if he doth not so devote himself, he is unjust: and he who either to advance himself, or to be Revenged on another, will push on Injurious Laws, or pervert the true Intention of such as are in Force, is an unjust man: and he who is under the influence of a Narrow Spirit, will be ready to do so, as occasion offers.