The Peace and Quietness of a People

p. 1An Election SERMON.

For Kings, and for all that are in Authority;—

WHO ever rightly Considers the state of mankind since the Apostasy, the Universal depravity & Corruption of humane Nature occasion'd thereby; the Disorders, Disquiets and Confusions which arise therefrom; will readily grant the necessity not only of Government in the world and of Persons of Eminency and every way fitted for the management of it; but also and especially of the Concurrence of the Spirit and Blessing of the Most High GOD, whose Thro◊e is established in the Heavens and whose Kingdom ruleth over all Creatures, to inspire such with needful Qualifications, and to give Success to their Measures for the suppressing Disorder, and the restoration & p. 2preservation of Peace and Quietness among men: for which all Christians ought to Pray earnestly unto God; which is the Duty the Apostle exhorts to in our Text.

The Exhortation is, 1. General, Express'd in the preceding Verse; I exhort therefore, that first of all, Supplications, Prayers, Intercessions, & giving of Thanks be made for all men: Prayer is the Duty here Exhorted to; and I conceive the Variety of Phrases by which the Apostle expresses it, is not Needless or Superfluous, but that it has its Significancy, and intimates to us at least the Necessity and Importance of the Duty; and the Fervency wherewith it is to be performed: The Apostle adds giving of Thanks, which though it be not Essential to Prayer, yet by Divine Order it is to be inserted into all our Prayers: Phil. 4. 6. But in every thing by Prayer and Supplication with Thanksgiving, let your Requests be made known unto God: And indeed it is highly Reasonable seeing God continually Administers to us Matter and Occasions of Thanksgiving; and as we ought to Pray for Mercy for all Men, which is the first Branch of the Exhortation (except it be for such as are Guilty of the Sin, for which the Apostle would not say that Christians ought to Pray, which Exception is to be understood in the Apostles Exhortation) so we ought in our p. 3Prayers for them to offer Thanksgiving to God on their behalf, for the Bounties and Blessings He is continually bestowing upon them.

p. 32. Particular, As in the Text; where we may observe two things.

(1.) The Persons we are Exhorted to Pray for, viz. For Kings, & for all in Authority; or all that are in Eminent Place, as it might have been rendered: Which intends those that have Supreme Authority & all that are Commissionated by them, and Govern under them; thus the Apostle Phraseth it under another Head, 1Pet. 2. 13, 14. Whether it be to the King, as Supreme; Or unto Governours, as unto those that are sent by him. Which intends the Supreme and all Inferiour Magistrates; which in those times were Heathens, Discountenancers of and Enemies to the Christian Religion; nevertheless it was the will of the Inspired Apostle not only that their Authority should be Subjected to; but also that they should be Prayed for in all Christian Congregations.

(2.) The reason of it; That we may lead a Quiet and Peaceable Life in all Godliness and Honesty: There is a Threefold Peace; Peace with God; In our own Consciences; And with Men or in Societies, It is this latter that is particularly meant in the words; and I p. 4take the other Term, viz. Quiet, to be Synonimous and to mean the same thing: and these are absolutely Necessary to the comfort of Life: for though we have a Confluence of all other good things yet if we have not Peace & Quietness in the Fruition of them; we shall want much of their Comfort, and their Sweetness will be very much diminished: the Apostle adds, In all Godliness and Honesty, which seems to Limit Peace and Quietness to things Sacred, as to the Worship of God and the Exercise of Religion which are intended in these Phrases, 9. d. That we may Worship God according to the mind of Christ in the Gospel, and Practice the other Duties of Religion without Molestation, which they often met with from their Heathen Rulers and from the Jews by their allowance; and doubtless the Apostle had a particular aim at this and desired it above all other things: But yet we may suppose that the general meaning of the Apostle in this expression was, that they might not be Disturbed or Disquieted in any of their Injoyments, and in this Latitude I shall take the words.

p. 4The Matter of our Prayers for Kings, and those in Authority is not to be Limited by this clause in the Text, for then we should Pray for our selves rather than for them, but p. 5our Prayers for them ought to be Directed by their Circumstances and Conditions: The Apostle is silent as to the Petitions which they were to offer unto God for their Rulers; but we may conclude, that, they being Heathens and Enemies to the Christian Religion, one main & principal thing which they were to Petition for, was, that they might be Converted to the Christian Faith, and be made Defenders, Countenancers and Incouragers of their Religion: but we living under a Christian Government, and being under Christian Rulers, our Prayers for them must be Varied accordingly: but more may be said of this afterwards.

The Text is Copious and affords Instructions to all Orders and Degrees of Men.

1. Civil Rulers are here Instructed in one great End and Design of Government, which is the Peace and Quietness of those over whom they Rule, and also in their Work and Duty; which is the Procurement & Maintenance of their Peace & Quietness, that they may lead a Peaceable and Quiet Life under their Government, this is Plainly Suggested in the Text.

2. The Ruled are here Instructed in their Duty, particularly and expresly in the great Duty of Prayer to God for their Rulers, that they may be furnished to their Work, and be p. 6made Instrumental in bringing about this great end & design of Government the Peace & Quietness of those over whom they Rule: These are the two Heads which by Divine Assistance, I shall speak to at this Time.