influenced by Friends or Parties, by any felfish fears or hopes: but will readily pursue their Duty in defiance of all worldly Confiderations to the contrary. Hating Covetoufnefs; Selfishness is a flat contradiction to a Publick Spirit, and 'tis impoffible that the Sordid and Covetous fhou'd ever be capable of any thing fo great and lovely as Religion and Honour. These are the Characters which fit Men for the Chair; these are the Men whose Example will derive Force and Authority on their Zeal for Reforma

tion.

2. From hence 'tis plain that they who choose fuch Men for Magistrates as are not qualify'd for it, betray the trust which God and the Goverment have repos'd in 'em: That they are in effect Enemies to their Religion and their Country; and the Grounds they proceed upon, whatever they be, can never be wife nor good. The great and excellent Ends of God can never be ferv'd by ill Men; by Men whose Practices obStruct that Vertue which their Power fhould promote, and are fo far from being an Ornament to their Station, that they are a Dishonour to it, and serve only to bring Magistracy it felf into contempt.

3dly and lastly, Since Magiftrates are the Minifters of God, and the great End of Government is to restrain Vice and propagate Vertue, 'tis plain that they muft at the last day render an account of their Office to God, and stand or fall as they have answer'd or difappointed this Expectation of God. It will not then be confider'd what expence they have made, what port or figure they have maintain'd, or what party they adher'd to; but how heartily they have fought the good of the people committed to their charge which is, in other words, how zealously they have perfecuted wickednefs, and espous'd the intereft of Religion. The Pfalmift therefore puts Magiftrates in mind, that God heedfully Superintends and obferves their deportment, in order to judge'em. God ftandeth in the Congregation of the mighty: he judgeth mong the Gods. Pfal. 82. And by laynig before 'em the vast importance of Magiftracy to the World, for 'tis the fsupport of it, he fuggefts to 'em how great, how dreadful a punishment must be justly due to negligence or corruption in it. They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkneß: all the foundations of the Earth are out of course, v. 5.

And

And at last, left they should flatter themselves that their power and greatneß can fhelter and skreen them from Vengeance; he puts 'em in mind that they are mortal, and can no more escape judgment than they can death: I have faid ye are Gods, and all of you are Children of the most High; but ye shall die like Men, and fall like one of the Princes, v. 6, 7. And as it is appointed for Rulers as well as private Men once to die, fo confequently to appear in judgment. And what a dreadful account will he have to give at the last Audit, who has been selfish or fottish? who has prostituted his power. to gratifie fome vile Luft or Paffion, and betray'd the honour and interest of Juftice and Vertue to ferve fome By end?

To prevent this fad iffue of things, give me leave to lay before you the Example of an excellent Governour, which I would earnestly defire you to follow in proportion to your Endowments and Power; it is that of David in Pfal. 101. He there proposes to himself three things, and I do not doubt but he did steadily pursue 'em throughout his Reign. 1. He refolves upon the practice of the strictest vertue in his own perfon; without which he well knew he cou'd not expect the

pro

.

propitious Prefence of God with him, either to guide or blefs him. I will behave my felf wifely in a perfect way; O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my houfe with a perfect heart. I will fet no wicked thing before mine eyes:. I hate the work of them that turn afide, it shall not cleave to me, v. 2, 3. Next he refolves to purge his Court of all wicked and ungodly Men, and to plant it with such as fear God: to cafheer the peevish and ambitious, the treacherous and fraudulent, the factious and contentious; and to receive into his friendship and fervice Men of Truth and Integrity, Lovers of Religion and their Country; and therefore fure to be faithful to both. A froward heart shall depart from me, I will not know a wicked perfon. Whofo privily flandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off : him that hath an high look and a proud heart will I not fuffer; mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the Land, that they may dwell with me: and fo on. Laftly he refolves to put the Laws against all notorious Offenders in vigorous execution. And the truth is, the Civil Laws of Mofes are full and fevere enough against all wilful and fcandalous Crimes, and needed not any Arbitrary Power to

fupply

fupply their defects: So that the Pfalmist might very well exprefs this his fence in the manner he does; I will early deftroy all the wicked of the Land, that I may cut off all wicked doers from the City of the Lord. v. 8. O bright Example! O wife and holy Refolutions! Happy will this Land be, when God fhall vouchfafe to raise up fuch a Spirit as this in our Prince, and in all that are put in Authority under him. Certainly all that have any serious thoughts about Religion and the Influence of it, muft earnestly defire to fee that Day, and make it the daily fubject of their importunate Prayers. Which minds me of my Third and Laft Head.

III. The Duty of all good People, to serve and affift the Magistrate in his Endeavours for Reformation. Which is here call'd, The Standing up with him against the Workers of Iniquity. I need not surely prove this to be our Duty. We cannot fave our own Souls without doing what God has put in our power towards the faving thofe of others: without this we must not pretend to Religion. For what a strange fort of Religion is that which has neither Zeal for God nor Charity for Man and he can be fuppos'd

to