Rulers the Ministers of God for the Good of Their People

Being the Day for the Election of His Ma- | Rules the Good of their bel. SETS Preached before His EXCELLENCY | WILLIAM BURNET Esq, The Hondurable the Lieu. Governous, Bay in New-England, May 28. 1729. Jesty's COUNCIEE.” By Feremiaß Wise, M A * „ aber to a Church of Christ in Berwick. Luke 22: 25. — they that 8 Authority use on them, are called Renefattors, ON. the Council and Representatives of the Province of the Massachusetts» Printed by T Fleet; Printer to the Honourable: House of Re- I presentatives. Sold by T. Hancock, at the d . | oe near che Nun Dock, ewes — CY OTE Wer. IIS "oF _ act} Advertisement. HE Reader is desir d to take No- | tice, that several Paragraphs were omitted in Preaching, FOR The Good of their People. ROM. XIII 4. For He is the Minister of GOD to thee for Good. 2.2!2>2.S HE % Constitution of civil Govern: rein ment will not alone make a People bapTer py, without a wise and jast Admini7 $$$4 i n vigorous application of the Means con5 * 2 T S iss stration: A steady View and Aim in 2 the Rulers, at the publick Good, anda ducive to that End, which requires Union amongst themselves, in their Counsels and Design, and a Concurrence of the People with them therein; who can't be made Happy, without their own Consent, Such an Union of Counsels, and Design, such a Concurrence in the use of proper means, will have a natural Tendency, to the Prosperity, the flourishing Circumstances of - such a People ; whose Peace, by thu means, may become like a River, and their © Righteousness like the Waves of the Sea. Of such a People it may be said, as the Prophet speaks of Jerusalem Fal 131.3.

— 6 An Electian- S ERM ON. They are 4s a City builded up, and compact toget ber; and the Words in a following verse |, may be taken up, 25 a Prediction; Peace will be within their Walls, i. e. within their Borders, and Prosperity within their Palaces, That Land may be accounted already happy, whose Rulers are like the Heads of Issachar, having Under fading in the Times, to know what Isracl ought to do, and are agreed in the proper, Methods that tend to the general Weal; and their Brethren are at their Commandment ; ready to do what is just and fit, in order to the compassing that End: whose Magistrates, are justly stiled their Benefactors, Ministers of GOD to them for Good; And the People love to have it so ; are a/ and quiet under their Administration; pleas'd with their Condu# ; subject to their Awtbority ; and are willing honourably to sapport them. Happy « the People, that & in such a Case ; Yea bappy is that People whose GOD 5s the LORD, For the Lord is our Fudge, the Lord is our Law-giver, the Lord is our King, and be will save . 5 The Apostle Paul, the Author of this divine Epistle, which was written to the Christians living in Rome: charges them, tho' they liv'd under a Heathen Governmen, to be subject to it; to behave themselves quietly and peaceably in the state; and to pay their Rates and Taxes readily towards the Support of the Government: Because that as Government in general, is of a divine Original, and the Powers that be, are Ordained of God, for the Good, of the People; so they that receive the Benefir, and enjoy the Protection of the Government, (which they might expect, upon their good Behaviour) are oblidg'd in point of Duty and Giatitude, so ro behave themselves : and if they were otherwise F ed to their Rulers,; were trouble» cnnpL_Rs Chron, 62. 33, some þ As Eleflion- SERMON: 7 some and difficult to the State; stir'd up Factions and Rebellion, they would gain the Displeasute of theic al: Superiours, and expose thetnselves to the Penal Laws, : which would be executed on them with Severity. And besides they would become obnoxious to the Wrath | of God, who would be reflected on, by such a Re- | fiance; and would become a Party in the Cause, and be Oblig'd to vindicate the Honour of his own Name; upon them. This is the substance of the Apoflle's - Discourse, in the sever first Verses, FRY In the Words of the Teat, we have one of the | \Reasons, the Apostle gives, for this subjection to Civil Authority, taken from the next End and great Benefit of Government ; which is the Good of the subject. For be i the Minister of God to thee for Good, | | The Word [for ] connects these with the foregoing | | Words ; but I shall not Consider them in reference 1 to the Context, but only in themselves; which I shall |_ | briefly explains, and then name the Doctrine from 13 them. a | | | He ] that is, the Power or Ruler before mentioned | in the third verse, of whom the Apostle speaks when | he would tell us, the End the Civil Ruler is appoinnd y j _ is not to be a Terror to good Works, but to the EU.. | - . He 3s the Minister J This Word, is a Title of Office; ; Service, or Administration, and the Original Word signifies a painful and laborious Mini stry or Service, | | wherein Men take pains, labour, and even sweat ns those, that make haste in Travel, raising the Dust, with their celerity and speed 1. This Title then, implies Work and Business, proper to this Office. 4 Leigh, Por. …