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XVI.

Mat.xxii.

Soveraign, nor make any thing Matter of Demand, but the reftoring and fecuring to them what is their Due, by Laws already established.

MOREOVER, fince God is the fu preme Monarch of the Universe, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords; fince his Power alone is unlimited and irrefiftible; and by Confequence the primary and noft proper Object of Men's Fear; it is manifeft, that no human Laws whatsoever, can bind Men to act contrary to the Divine. Nothing can be more unreasonable, than to obey God's Vice-gerent in Oppofition to God himself, and to fuffer the Fear of a lefs Power, to prevail against the Fear of a greater. The Text teaches us, in the firft Place, to fear the Lord, and then the King. Should the King command not to fear the Lord, it is better to endure all that he can inflict, than to do what he commands. We are indeed commanded to render to Cæfar the Things that are Cæfars; but we cannot without Impiety withold from God the Things that are God's, that we may render to Cafar

more

more than is his due. The Apostles, SERM.

XVI.

when they were reprimanded by the High-Prieft for not obeying the Charge given them by the Sanhedrim, to teach no more in the Name of Jefus, answered plainly, That they ought to obey God A&ts v. rather than Man. And a Disciple of 29. St. John being brought before the Magiftrate for Chrift's Name fake, answered to the fame purpose; "We are taught "to pay to the Powers and Authorities "ordained of God, all due Honour, ex"cepting fuch only as would be hurtful

" to us.' For to Chriftians, that Honour and Obedience muft needs appear hurtful, which, tho' it may skreen them from the Displeasure of an earthly Governour, who can kill the Body only, will draw upon them the Wrath of God, who can deftroy both Body and Soul in Hell.

BUT tho' the Fear of God muft, in cafe of Competition, take Place, before the Fear of the King; yet ought it not to be made a Pretence for refufing to render to the King the Fear which is ow

Eufeb. Hift. Ecclef. lib. 4. cap. 15.

ing

SERM.

XVI.

ing to him. The Fear of God is fo far from releafing Subjects from their Duty to their Prince, that it is the furest Ground of it, and the strongest Motive to it. For fince the King is the Minister of God; they who do indeed fear God, will of course fear him who is in the Place of God, and acts by Authority derived from Him. And whatfoever Honour or Service they are to yield to him, they will yield it heartily, not as to a Man, but as to Him whom he reprefents, the Allfeeing and All-powerful God.

To fuch Men human Laws have a much stronger Sanction, than the Penalties annexed to the Violation of them by the Legislature. They are fubject for fear, not only of the Magiftrates Wrath, but of that everlasting Punishment, which God will inflict upon all who will not fubmit to the Powers ordained by Him.

THE firmeft and most inviolable Ingagement by which Subjects can oblige themselves to be faithful to a Government, is a folemn Oath, which is render'd effectual to its End by the Fear of

God,

God, who is therein invocated as a Witnefs to the Sincerity of the Swearer's Intention, and as the Avenger of his Perfidioufnefs fhould he break through fo facred a Tye.

BUT to those who have no Awe of this Omniscient Witness, no Dread of this Almighty Avenger, no Oaths will be binding any longer than they are agreeable to their Inclination. And it will be their Inclination to do every thing with a View to worldly Advantages. The Ground and Measure of their Obedience to the Prince, will be their fecular Intereft; the Variation of which will be apt to produce an answerable Change in the Conduct. For they will have no Motive to Loyalty left, when they may turn Rebels with Impunity, and be Gainers by an Alteration of Government.

BUT the Fear of God being always the fame, is a very steady Principle of Loyalty. It fecures the Obedience of Subjects in many Cafes, where the Laws either do not reach them, or cannot be executed upon them; and keeps them

true

SERM.

XVI.

XVI.

true to the Intereft of their Soveraign, SERM. when other Confiderations might induce them to betray or defert it. Even they who would perfuade us that there is no fuch Being as God, or if there be, that He obferves not what paffes here below, cannot but own that the Fear of Him is a Principle very friendly to Government, and of great Ufe to difpofe Men to be peaceable and fubmiffive to those who are in Authority.

1 Pet. ii.

13.

THE more inexcufable were the Actors in this Day's horrid Tragedy, who made the Fear of God the Cloak of Treafon; and in direct Contradiction to the Precept of St. Peter, fet themselves to resist every Ordinance of Man for the Lord's Sake, turning Faith into Faction, and Religion into Rebellion: who under a fpecious Pretext of reforming the Church, filled their native Country with Blood and Defolation, trampled upon its Laws, and triumphed in the Ruin of its Conftitution : who fafted and prayed, not for the Safety of the King, and all that were in Autho rity, that under them they might lead a