A Sermon Preached at the Election of the Governor at Boston in New England

The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.

THese words may be considered two wayes; 1. As holding forth a Prophecy of the Kingdom of the Messiah, who is the Mediator, Surety, and Head of the Covenant of Grace, for his People. In which Covenant David comforted himself whatever decayes should befall him, or his house in after-times. 2. As holding forth a Rule for the choice and ordering of Rulers over men. According to this consideration of the words, I purpose to handle them at this time, as best suiting with the present occasion. And so the words hold forth a Rule of Wisdom, whereunto the Lord teacheth his People to apply their hearts, in setling Civil Government according to God's Ordinance, so as they may expect the presence and blessing of God, through Jesus Christ with them, and upon the Commonwealth.

I shall sum up all in one Doctrinal Conclusion, which shall be this;

That it is the Ordinance of God, in reference to Civil Government in Commonwealths, that some men orderly chosen should rule over other men: and in reference to the qualification of Rulers, that they be just, ruling in the fear of God.

Which is twofold. 1. Concerning the thing; that some men should rule over others. 2. Concerning the qualification of the persons that are to rule; that they be just, ruling in the fear of God. In this way of his Ordinance you see, in my Text, both these are joyned together, and noted as the Ordinance of God, in the Trinity of Persons, God the Father said it, who is called the God of Israel, by vertue of his gracious Covenant with them: and God the Son spake it, who is stiled, the Rock of Israel, for that title is ascribed to Christ the Mediator, and second Person: [1 Cor. 10.4.] For they drank of the Spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.

p. 4And they both spake it to David by the third Person, the Holy Spirit, who spake by David, ver. 2. But I shall handle them severally.

p. 41. The first, that in reference to Civil Order in the Commonweal, God hath ordained. That some men; orderly chosen, should rule over other men.

It is not my purpose to discourse of the several Forms of Government, Monarchical, Aristocratical, and Democratical, nor to trouble you with the divers readings of the words, according to the Original, being content to handle them as they are translated, and read in all your Bibles. From whence the Doctrine is collected. And the first thing to be proved, is,

That Power of Civil Rule, by men orderly chosen, is Gods Ordinance.

For,

1. It is from the Light and Law of Nature, and the Law of Nature is God's Law.

2. The orderly ruling of men over men, in general, is from God, in its root, though voluntary in the manner of coalescing: It being supposed that men be combined in Family-Society, it is necessary that they be joyned in a Civil-Society; that union being made, the power of Civil-Government, and of making Laws, followeth naturally, though the manner of union, in a Political Body, is voluntary. That we defend our selves from violence and wrong, is a consequent of pure Nature: but that we do it by devolving our Power into the hands of Civil Rulers, this seems to be rather positively moral, than natural.

3. Because this special Form of Civil Government of Commonweales, by men orderly chosen, the Scripture ascribes unto God; and also Civil Government, administred by Judges and Magistrates, as Christ spake concerning Pilate, Joh. 19. 11. Jesus answered, Thou couldst have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: and they are said to judge not for man, but for the Lord, 2 Chron. 19. 6. hence they are called Gods, Psal. 82. 6, 7. as appointed by him, according to Christ's exposition of those words, Joh. 10. 35. If he calleth them Gods, unto whom the Word of God was given. See what the Wisdom of God, which is Jesus Christ, saith in Prov. 8. 15, 16. By me Kings reign, and Princes decree justice.

Object. In 1 Pet. 2. 13, 14. Civil Government by Civil Rulers is called a humane Ordinance, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉.

p. 4Answ. Not to shew that it is a meer humane invention, and no Ordinance of God: for that is contradictory to Rom. 13. 1. The Powers that be, are ordained of God. ver. 2. and he that resisteth, resisteth the Ordinance p. 5of God. But it is so called, 1. Because men are the subject recipient of this Power. So the Syriack expresseth it, Leculhum benai aushe, Obey all sons of men that are in Authority. 2. Because the Choice hereunto is from God by men, Deut. 1. 13. Bring you men of Wisdom, and of Understanding, and known among your Tribes, and I will make them Rulers over you. 3. Because humane Concernments are the proper objects of it. [1 Cor. 6. 4.] If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them up which are least esteemed in the Churches. 4. Because the good of humane Societies is the end of it. Therefore Durandus, in his Book, De Origine Juris, saith well, Civil Power, according to God's Institution is of God, and according to its acquisition and use, it is of man. …