None prosper'd better then such as were nursing fathers to Gods Embassadours , as David , Hezekiah ; and Joash did what was right in the sight of the Lord , all the daies that Iehoiada the priest liv'd 2 Kin. 2.12 . Iovinian protected truth , and truth protected him : what made Theodosius and Constantine so famous among the Romane Emperors , but their tendernesse to those that waited at Gods Altar . Moses knew this well when he went to Pharoah , he made excuses , and demurres Exod. 4.10 . I am not eloquent . v. 13. O my Lord send by him whom thou wilt send : untill Aarons keyes were added to the sword of Moses ; till Aaron was made to Moses insteed of a mouth , and Moses to Aaron insteed of a God , v. 16. Then they go sweetly , and comfortably together Chap. 5. v. 1. s s Ps. 74.3 . The mountaines shall bring peace , the mountaines i. e. the rulers ; so they are call'd in the prophets , as t t Es. 41.15 . shady mountaines , and God will thresh the mountaines ; the little hills shall bring righteousnesse unto the people , The little hills i. e. the praco's and cryers which preach the word of righteousnesse : but these little hills must sit under the shaddowes of those mountaines ; these preachers must sit under the command and protection of this u u Cant. 4.4 . tower of Ivory in the text ; then righteousnesse and peace shall kisse each other : when Magistrates and Ministers like the Elme and vine , are twisted together , by a certaine sympathy ; they both thrive the better . The neck must not say to the eyes , I have no need of you , nor the eyes to the neck I have no need of thee . A Schisme here would prove dangerous , to the dashing of w w Dum singuli pugnant universi vincuntur . Tac. both in pieces . Therefore let as many as have good will to Sion , pray that these may go hand in hand ; not as if we claimed an equality with you , or exemption for your authority , much lesse , like so many popelings , a superiority above you ; no , we desire to be subject to Gods ' Vicergerents ; and that not for feare but for conscience sake . Neither have we an itch to be tampering with your charriot , or to thrust our fingers into temporall jurisdiction : much may be said in this case , Rex Annius , rex idem hominum Phoebique sacerdos . Sacerdotes enim in supremum senatum lecti fuêre & cum summo populi ductore consultabant de Rep. from the example of Solomon , Melchisedech , the first borne among the children of Israel , Eli , Samuel ; the history of the Church for many ages , the constitution of the Sanhedrim among the Jewes : but I was never found of this doctrine . I am sure we have business enough besides to take up the whole man : and x x 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . who is sufficient for these things ? tractent fabrilia fabri , let every man continue in that calling , wherein he is call'd ; if call'd to the ministry , le ts wait on our ministring : those that are call'd to ruling , let them do it with all diligence Rom. 12.7 , 8.

So much of the members joyntly , as they cast a mutuall aspect on each other .

The necessity of Magistrates 1. In respect of the whole state , a strange body without a neck , a stranger state without rulers : we should quickly be resolved into a paralitike body , if not held together by these nerves and sinewes : as a ship floating on the sea without a pilot , or like the sea it selfe without bankes : were it not for this tower of Ivory , we should all be as the tower of Babel : This Olbion , this happy Island , would revolve , and degenerate into a Saxony indeed , and become the mother of a cruell , hard hearted people , every county would be commune latrocinium , a common robbery ; instead of flowing with milk and honey , it would flow with streames of blood ; Non hospes ab hospite tutus . one man would be a Wolfe , and Tyger to another : nay 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , like fishes , the greater would devoure the lesse : we should be as those barbarous Scythians who did y y 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Basil . end their controversies , not in civill courts , as at this day , but in the fields ; not by the power of argument , but by the dint of the sword . The high waies would be unoccupied as in the daies of Anath Indg. 5. when men went through byewaies . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Homer Iliads . Pandarus wher 's your bow ? should be our salutation instead of God speed ! or peace be with you ! no walking safe without being clad in steele , as men travell through forrests with bills on their shoulders , for feare of wild beasts , Lam. 5. v. 12. The faces of the elders were not honour'd v. 14. The elders have ceased from the gate , neither Assizes , nor Sessions ; what then ? the young men ceased from their musick : the joy of our heart is ceased , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arist. Rhet. our dance is turned into mourning v. 15. In the lawes of a Nation consists the safety of a Nation : therefore the gates of the Iewish Cities , as they were seats of justice , so they were the Magazines & Armories of their strength ; hence are those phrases of meeting the enemy , and resisting the enemy in the gate : the gates of Hell , and the gates of death : to shew that the strength of a Nation or City , do's not more consist in the number of men , & armes , then in the vigorous execution of a a Non extimui unquam homines quibus vacuus est locus in media urbe i. e. forum , as Cyrus said foolishly of the Lacedemonians Herod ot . lib. 10. justice ; in cutting off rotten , gangren'd , leprous members . The Kings throne is establisht by justice , and Christ order'd his Kingdome in justice and judgment Es. 9.7 .

Such judgment is only condemned in scripture which is b b Amesius in casibus conscientiae . private and rash : and such going to law as is with scandall , and before heathen judges ; not when t is used as some medicines , for the last refuge , when other meanes and waies will not prevaile : 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . not as pleasing sau●e ; as too many spirits do sport themselves in this fire of contention , like so many Salamanders , and never triumph more , then when they get a victory in this civill warre , though commonly the advantage will not equall the losse : like two milstones , or like the flint and steele they spend and weare out each others , to enrich and warme the pleaders box .

In respect of the Church too : faithfull rulers are as so many stakes in the hedge of Gods vineyard ; to fence it from such wild beasts , that would root up the very foundations of religion . The servants of the living God would be as those two c c Rev. 11. witnesses , or as poore infants scrawling in the streets ; if Magistrates should not carry them in their armes , by becoming nursing fathers , and nursing mothers unto them , as Calvin understands that of Esa. 49.23 . Alas ! were it not for these towers we should be expos'd to wind , and weather ; were it not for these bulworkes , we should be overrunne with Atheisme , Heresy , and Idolatry : when Moses was gone to the mount , the Israelites were liberall in casting in their Jewells , to make a molten calfe . Micah had an house of Gods , an Ephod , a Teraphim , and to compleat his Idolatry , he consecrated his son to be his priest : Who was of the tribe of Ephraim and not of Levi ; which fault he rectified v. 13. the circumstance of time is famous , in those daies there was no King in Israel Judg. 17.5 , 6. As rulers are custodes utriusque tabulae the maintainers of religion to God ; of peace , and charity towards men , so ecce duos gladio● , Loel here are two swords , one to cut off serpents , and w●olves ( So d d De jure belli & pacis lib. 2. Grotius calls malefactors , that infest the civill state ) another to strike through the jawes of those Beares , and to restraine those petulant Foxes , that would lay the Church wast . But as our eyes behold our teachers , so may we long behold our rulers ! that the scepter may not depart from our Judah , nor a lawgiver from between her feet , till Shiloh shall come the second time , till all power shall be resigned up to Christ , when he shall come to judgment ! 1 Tim. 2.2 . And good reason we have to pray for those that are in Authority , that we may live a quiet and peaceable life , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in e e Espencaeus . godlinesse and chastity ; as if loosnesse and carnall licentiousnesse would break in like a mighty torrent , Amos. 5.10 . if the gates of authority were flung off their hinges ; if there were none to reprove in the gate , sin would soone have an impudent , whorish forehead . And as we must pray for them : so we must honour them too . They are Abimelecks , fathers of their country , and so may claime honour by vertue of the fift commandement , they have on them Gods owne stampe , Elohim . gods , therefore Exod. 22.28 . Thou shalt not revile the gods , nor speake evill of the rulers of my people . Thou shalt not blaspheme the gods , so some read it : such Shimei's as dare bark at all that is called God shall one time or other be met withall .

Now as we have seene the necessity of Magistrates , and what our demeanour should be towards them , let 's see also how they must carry themselves towards such as are under them .

Their qualification &c. This neck must be as a tower of Ivory .

1. They must as Ivory be pure , streight , 2 Kin. 19.17 . faire , transparent . Solomons throne was of Ivory . The Curules among the Romans sate in Chaires of Ivory , Sceptro innixus eburno . which might be Emblems of innocent , and upright judgment : as the houses of the gods were feigned to be roof't and sealed with Ivory Ebur nitidum fulgentia tecta tegebat , and Jupiter had an Ivory scepter , to shew that purity which was thought to be amongst them : or as judges are still cloathed in scarlet which is of a deep , perfect , lasting dye , to put them in mind of integrity , and conscientious constancy in the administration of justice .

Magistrates must be pure and cleare in their lives and profession of religion , as men . Let Machivilians , and Achitophels say what they will , those men are like to be the best Magistrates , who are the best men ; and that government prospers best , which is grafted on the stock of religion ; those rulers will warpe with any base compliance , they will steere their course , according to the Card of selfe interest , popularity , and sinister respects , who are not pois'd , and principled upon religion , Luk. 18.2 . and conscience : they will do injustice for a peice of bread : Amos. 2.6 . they will sell the righteous for silver , and the poore for a paire of shooes .

Constantine coming to the throne : Eulebius . first made proclamation , that whosoever would not renounce the Christian religion , and sacrifice to devills ( supposing that some would serve the devill himselfe to save , or get preferment ) they should be none of his court ; no officers of state under him , but when he saw who would forsake . Christ to cleave unto this present world ; he discharged them , and retain'd those that kept their constancy to the Christian religion ; How shall they said he be faithfull to me , to their countrey , who are faithlesse to their God ? The application is easy .

All that professe themselves true members of Christ if they be not Cancers , and excrescencies of that body , must be cloth'd with a wedding garment , with a virgine tire of purity , and sincerity ; casting away all sulli'd rotten raggs , which stinke of the plague sore of sinne , hating the very garment spotted with the flesh , we must keep our garments undefiled here , if we hope to walk in white hereafter Rev. 3.4 . O how ugly is any private Christian swelling with a Tympany of pride , envy , anger ? burning in the flame of any lust ? wallowing in any uncleanesse , or vomit ? eaten up with strange , heretical doctrine , Myrthe , Alloes & Cassia were to be kept in Ivory palaces . i. e. wardropes : no sullied things were to come there Ps. 45.8 . which eate as a canker ? but how monstrous is a ruler roling in any Lerna's or sinkes of filthyness ; they should exceed others in piety and religion , as much as they do in power and authority ; others must be of Ivory , they , as towers of Ivory , Inter eburna cupressi , as Saules among the people , in holinesse . T is an arrant absurdity that men should be publike governours ; Annot. and private slaves ; at the beck of base lusts . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Basill . The lives of rulers are very exemplary , David was called the light of Israel 2 Sam. 21.17 . We count in genus obsequii a kind of duty to imitate their very failings . They do live upon the pinacles of the world , In excelso vitam agere . all men have an eye to their actions : Cyrus commanded the chiefe officers to keep a strict reine over themselves , Xenophon that was the way to keep the whole army in order . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Lucian . Menippus reading of the incest , adulteries , murders of the gods , could say presently , that the gods would never have done thus , Plurimos secum perdunt . and thus , had they not knowen it to be lawfull : thus wicked Magistrates seldome fall alone , they draw many after them , as the * * Re. 12.4 . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ? Chrysost. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . p. 22. dragon , or Lucifer falling from heaven , drew the third part of the starres after him , or as Sampsons death was accompanied with many of the Philistims . But let such know , that occasion the falls of others , that their falls shall be the more grievous , others falling upon them ; their sorrow shall be aggravated by the sorrow of others ; As their sinnes affect their subjects with judgments . Manasses fill'd Jerusalem with blood , so that Jerusalem was delivered to the Caldeans , 2 King . 21.

As Magistrates , so they must be cleare and pure as Ivory .

1. From acceptation of persons in judgment ; friends , and kinsmen must not then be knowne ; as Zeleucus is stori'd to sentence his own sonne : Judges must be like Melchisedech , without father , mother , allies ; or as the Athenian judges , who judged by night , when the faces of man could not be seene .

2. From rash judgment , Num. 9.4 . stand still said Moses , and I will heare what the Lord will command concerning you ; so God himselfe went downe to Sodome , to see whether things were according to their cry : Shaptim judges , comes from Shaphat , to measure , to lay a thing to the line , to shew what sober debate , what deliberation rulers should use before passing sentence either in civill matters or criminall Nulla cunciatio longis est . Vita hominum non est talorum ludus .

Yet 3. They must not be too dilatory , as long in bringing forth their verdicts as the Elephant her young making suits as long as the Trojane warre ; this protracting ; and spinning out of time is complain'd of in every corner ; poore men say , they lose their right , because they have not meanes to follow the suit May it not be said to such judges as the woman to Philip , ●●●lite re●nare , come downe from the Tribunall , and be no judges at all .