The Character and Work of a Good Ruler

T. Cushing, Speaker.

AN Election-Sermon.

II SAM. xxi. 17. the latter Part.

—Then the Men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to Battle, that thou quench act the Light of Israel.

A Mutual good Affection between Prince and People, engaging them to their respective Duties, and shewing itself in the Expressions of a tender Concern for the Safety and Comfort of each other, is always desireable, and perculiarly so in perilous Times. 'Tis (if I mistake not) exemplify'd in this historical Passage of sacred Scripture; and may, on the present Occasion, be seasonably recommended therefrom.

The great King David was Man of War, eminently qualified, not only to sit on the Throne, and judge his Pople, but also to march at the Head of Armies into the Field, and fight their Battles. And p. 2by his martial Skill and Atchievements, as well as by his consummate Policy, just and pious Administration, his Reign was glorious to himself, and happy to his Subjects. It seems to be in the latter End of it, when he was weaken'd with Age, that we here find him at War with the Philistines, in which he waxed saint. Ishhi-henob, which was of the Sons of the Giant, perceiving that David's Strength fail'd him, set upon him with greater Fury, and thought to have slain the King, and so defeated the Host of Israel. But Abishai, the Son Zeruiah, succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Upon the King's escaping so great a Danger, his Men resolv'd in Council, and confirm'd it with an Oath, that he should go no more out with them to Battle, should never again so hazard his precious and important Life, as he had often done, for the Safety of his People; left by his Death the Light of Israel should be quenched.—Some useful and pertinent Instructions may be gather'd from this Text: All that I shall offer may be comprized in this general Observation, viz.

That People should be concern'd for the Preservation of a good Ruler, who is their Light, and does for their Sakes incur great Difficulties and Hazards.

p. 2The Character and Work of a good Ruler, and the Duty of an obliged People, will come under Consideration in this Discourse.

Prop. I. That a good Ruler is the Light of his People.

p. 3So the Men of David justly thought, and pronouc'd him to be, the Light of Israel. And the Spirit of God spake by him in the same Stile of any other Man that ruleth as he ought. 2 Sam. 23. 3, 4. 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. And be shall be as the Light the Morning, when the Sun riseth, even a Morning without Clouds—.It is compared to the Light of the Sun, rising clear after a darksome and cold Night, and dispensing all about, it's chearful Rays and kindly Influences.

Light is an Emblem of Authority. It is the Firstborn of Things visible: Hath the Pre-eminence among them, or Predominancy over them: Was originally created and designed to bear Sway in the natural World. God made two great Lights [Gen. I. I6.] ; the greater Light to rule the Day, and the lesser Light to rule the Night: He made the Stars also, [Job. 38. 33.] and set the Dominion of them in the Earth. He represents his own supreme and universal governing Authority, by Light: Takes it for his Robe of Royalty.—O Lord, thou art very great, thou art clothed with Honour and Majesty. I'll be coverest thy self with Light, as with a Garment, Psal. 104. I, 2. And his blessed Son, to whom all Power in Heaven and Earth is given, wears the same Character: And is called in Balain's Prophecy of him, a Star, and a Sceptre [Numb. 24. 17.] And every Man, who, as God's Minister, and Christ's Representative, is vested with ruling Power, of any Degree in the Scale of Government, p. 4and exercises it to the good End for which it is delegated to him, is the Light of a People.

He is so,

I. As he is their Guide. The Use and Benefit of Light is to make us see, to direct us in our Way. Of such Advantage is a good Ruler unto his People, enlightning them with Knowledge of the Things, of their Peace, directing them in the Pursuit thereof, and pointing out to them the Way of their Duty and Safety. Job. 29. 25. I chose out their Way, and fat Chief, and dwelt as King in the Army. By a wise and understanding Heart, a penetrating Judgment, a provident descrying of Mischiefs or Advantanges, which may acrue to, or be averted from the Public, by a careful Inspection of the State and Manners of People, and strict Observance of their varying Circumstances: By a divine Sentence in his Lips, when his Mouth transgresseth not in Judgment; by prescribing Rules of Justice and Equity for all Relations and Conditions of Men, and Kinds of Commerce, in humane Society; by resolving of Doubts, and deciding of Controversies, and exhibiting a bright Example of Piety and Virtue, a Ruler is the directing Light of his People.

p. 42. A good Ruler is the Comfort and Joy, and so the Light of his People. Truly Light is sween, and a pleasant Thing it is for the Eyes to behold the Sun. It cheers the Heart, by working on the Spirits, as well as pleases the Eyes: Warms and enlivens universal Nature, all sensitive and vegetable Creatures: It is benign in its Influence, and productive p. 5of sweet Fruits : And so doth aptly set forth what a good Ruler is to his People, their Joy and Comfort. When the Righteous are in Authority, the People rejoice. The King by Judgment stablisheth the Land [Prov. 29. 2, 4.] : For then Justice is administred, Peace and good Order preserved, the Conveniences of humane Life are safely enjoy'd; Vice is corrected, and Vertue encouraged. Innumerable are the Benefits which People receive from a good Government. The pleasant Fruits of it, the Fruits of Righteousness and Peace, are more to be rejoiced in, than the precious Fruits brought forth by the Sun, and the precious Things put forth by Moon; and the Influences of it are sweeter than the Influences of the Pleiades, and extend far and wide. A good Ruler, seeking the Wealth of his People, and speaking Peace to them, is accepted of them, and is as he that comforteth the Mourners.