98. Qualifications of the Civil Magiftrate. Exod. xviii. 21. Thou fhalt provide out of all the Feople able Men, fuch as fear God, Men of Truth, hating Covetoufnefs, and place fuch to be Rulers.

Deut. i. 13. Take ye wife Men and understanding, known among your Tribes, and I will make them Rulers over you, Ver. 15.

may

xvii. 18. The King'fhall write him a Copy of this Law in a Book. Ver. 19 He fhall read therein all the Days of his Life. that he learn to fear the Lord his God, and to keep all the Words of this Law and thefe Statutes to do them, Ver. 15, 16, 17, 20. Joh. 1. 8.

2 Sam. xxiii. 3. He that ruleth over Men must be just, ruling in the Fear of God, 2 Chron. 19. 6, 7. 9.

Neh. v. 9. Ought ye not to walk in the Fear of God?

Pf. ii. 10. Be wife, ye Kings, be instructed, ye Judges of the Earth. Ver. 11. Serve the Lord with Fear.

Prov. xxix. 2. When the Righteous are in Authority the People rejoice

Examples. Jehoshaphat, 2 Chron. 20. 3. 99. The Magifirate's Concern with Religin. Chief Magiftrate, prayeth for the People, of God for the People, Exod. 18. 15.

Nehemiah, Neh. 5. 15. Num. xiv. 17. Moles the Deut. 9. 26. He enquireth

Jofh. vii. 6. Joshua prayeth for the People, Ver 7.

xxiv. 1. to 28. His religious Exhortation to the People.

2 Sam. vi. 2. David's Care of the Ark of God, 1 Chron. 23. 6. He divides the Priefts into Courfes.

vii. 2. He refolves to build an House for the Worship of God, Ver, 1 Kings 8. 18.

7,8.

1 Chron. xxii. 3. He prepares Materials for building the Temple. z Sam. vi. 18. He bleffes the People in the Name of the Lord. xxiv 17. He prayeth for the People, Ver. 25.

1 Chron. xxix. 19. He prayeth for Solomon.

2 Sam. iii. 1. David waxed ftronger and ftronger, Ch. 5. 10. He grew great, and the Lord ettablished him, Ver. 12.

viii. 14. The Lord preferved him whitherfoever he went.

1 Kings iii. 3. Solomon loved the Lord.

Ver. 9. He prayed to God for Qualifications to govern the People. Ver. 11. His Prayer was answered, Ch. 4. 29.

vi. 14. He built the Houfe of God."

viii. 23. His Prayer and Exhortation at the Dedication of the Temple, 2 Chron. 8. 14. He appoints the Courfes of the Priests.

1 Chron. xxix. 25. The Lord magnified Solomon exceedingly.

2 Kings xiii. 4, 5. Jehoahaz befought the Lord, and the Lord hearkened unto him, and gave Ifrael a Saviour.

2 Chron. xiv. 2. 4. Afa reforms Abuses in Religion. Ver. 11. He prayeth against the Ethiopian Army. Ver. 12. The Lord fmote the Ethiopians before Afa.

xv. 8. He farther reforms the Nation, and takes an Oath of the People to reform and to feek the Lord, Ver. 12, 13, 14.

xvii. 7, 8, 9. Jehoshaphat enjoins the Princes and the Levites to teach the Law of the Lord.

xix. 4. He reforins Abuses, gives a religious Charge to the Judges. See to Ver. II.

2 Chron

2 Chron. xx. 6. He appoints a Faft, prays against the Enemies of the Nation, and is heard. See to Ver. 24.

xxx. 2. Hezekiah took Counsel with the Princes, to celebrate the Paffover, which had been long neglected.

Ver. 5, 6, 7 He writes Letters and makes Proclamation to affemble the People, Ver. 18. He prays for the People.

xxxi. 2. He appoints the Courses of the Priests.

xxxii. 20. He prayed to God against the Affyrian Army.

Ver. 21. And the Lord fent an Angel which cut off all the mighty Men of Valour and the Leaders and Captains in the Camp of the King of Affyria, 2 Kings 19. 15. 20. Ifa. 36. 1.

Ver. 22. God faved Hezekiah.

Ver. 23. He was magnified in the Sight of all Nations.

2 Kings xxii. 3. Jofiah, his Care for the Houfe of God. Ver. 13. He fends to enquire of the Lord.

xxiii. 2, 3. He reads the Law to the People, and takes an Oath of the People to keep it, and reforms Abufes in Religion, Jer. 22. 15. God was with him.

Ezra ix. 6. Ezra prays and reforms Abuses in Religion, Ch. 8. 21. X. 1. 5. He takes an Oath of the People to reform.

Neh. i. 4. to 11. Nehemiah's Prayer and Confeffion, on which Deliverance is obtained. See Chapters, 2d, 3d, 4th.

v. 6. to 9. He reforms Abuses in Religion, Ch. 13. 10 to. 31. viii. 9. He teacheth the People.

ix. 1. &c. A remarkable Faft is kept, with Acknowledgment of Mercies, Humiliation and Confeffion of Sins.

x. 29. The People enter into a Curfe and into an Oath to walk in God's Law:

Jonah iii. 7. The King of Nineveh appoints a Faft.

Ver. 10. God approves thereof, and is intreated to be gracious.

100. Good Magifirates a Eleffing promifed to God's People. Ifa. i. 26. I will restore thy Judges as at the first, and thy Counsellors as at the Beginning.

Ver. 27. Zion fhall be redeemed with Judgment, and her Converts with Righteousness.

xxviii. 6. The Lord fhall be for a Spirit of Judgment to them that fit in Judgment.

xxxii. 16. Judgment shall dwell in the Wilderness, and Righteousness in the fruitful Field.

xxxiii. 5. The Lord hath filled Zion with Judgment and with Righteousness.

xlix. 23. Kings shall be thy nurfing Fathers and Queens thy nursing Mothers.

lx. 16. Thou shalt fuck the Breafts of Kings.

Ver. 17. I will make thine Officers Peace, and thine Exactors Righteousness.

Jer. xxx. 20. I will punish all that opprefs my People.

Ver. 21. Their Nobles fhall be of themselves, and their Governor fhall proceed from the Midft of them, and I will caufe him to draw and he shall approach unto me; for who is this that engageth his Heart to approach unto me, faith the Lord ?

near,

D dd 2

Ezek.

Zzek. xlv. 8. Princes fhall no more opprefs my People.

Zech. ix. 8. No Oppreffor fhall pafs through them any more.

101. Magifiracy is of Divine Appointment. Deut. xvi. 18. Judges and Officers fhalt thou make in all thy Gates, and they shall judge the People, Ch. 17. 5. Numb. 11. 16, 17.

Prov. viii. 15. By me Kings reign, and Princes decree Juftice.

Rom. xiii. 1. There is no Power but of God, the Powers that be are ordained of God.

Ver. 2. The Ordinance of God.

Ver. 4. The Magiftrate is the Minister of God.

102. Sins of Magiftrates. Perverting of Judgment, Respect of Persons, 'Partiality, &c. Exod. xxiii. 6. Thou shalt not wreft the Judgment of the Poor in his Cause, Ver. 2.

Ver. 7. The Innocent and Righteous flay thou not, for I will not juftify the Wicked.

Lev. xix. 15. Thou shalt do no Unrighteousness in Judgment, thou fhalt not refpect the Person of the Poor, nor honour the Person of the Mighty, Prov. 24. 43.

Deut. i. 17. Ye fhall not refpect Perfons in Judgment, ye fhall not be afraid of the Face of Man, for the Judgment is God's, 2 Chron. 19. 6. The Lord is with you in Judgment, Ver. 7. Rom. 2. 11. There is no Refpect of Perfons with God, Eph. 6 9. Col. 13. 25.

Prov. xvi. 12. It is an Abomination to Kings to commit Wickedness. Zech. vii. 10. Opprefs not the Widow nor the Fatherless, the Stranger nor the Poor, Job 31. 21.

Ifa. x. t. Wo unto them that decree unrighteous Decrees, and that write Grievoufnefs which they have prescribed.

Ver 2. To turn afide the Needy from Judgment, and to take away the Right from the Poor of my People, that Widows may be their Prey, and that they may rob the Fatherlefs, Jer. 22. 3. 5.

Ifa. x. 3. What will ye do in the Day of Vifitation? See Deut. 19. 15. Job 32. 21. Pf. 94. 20. Eccl. 5. 8. Ifa. 1. 10.-3. 12, 13, 14, 15.-28. 14, 15. 17, 18. Mic. 3. 1, 2, 3, 4. Acts 23. 3: 103. Perverting of Judgment through Covetousness, taking Gifts, &c. Exod. xxiii. 8 Thou shalt not take a Gift, for a Gift blindeth the Eyes of the Wife, and perverteth the Words of the Righteous, Deut.

16.9.

Prov. xxix. 4. He that receiveth Gifts, overthroweth the Land. xxiii. 23. A wicked Man taketh a Gift, out of the Bofom, to pervert the Ways of Judgment. See Perfons threatened for this Sin, 1 Sam. 8. 3. Ifa. 1. 23, 24.-5. 22, 23. Jer. 22. 17, 18, 19. Ezek. 22. 27. 31. Hof. 4. 18. Amos 5. 12. Mic. 3. 11, 12.-7. 3, 4. See Perfons free from it, 1 Sam. 12. 3. Neh. 5. 14, 15. Promifes to fuch, Ifa. 33. 15.

Ezek. 18. 17.

104. Perverting of Judgment through Drunkenness. Prov, xxxi. 4. It is not for Kings to drink Wine, nor for Princes ftrong Drink, left they drink and forget the Law, and pervert the Judgment of any of the Afflicted.

Ifa. xxviii. 1. Wo to the Drunkards of Ephraim, Ver. 3. They fhall be trodden under Foot.

Ver. 7. They have erred through Wine, and through strong Drink are they out of the Way, Ver. 8.

Ifa. v. 22. Wo to them that are mighty to drink Wine, and Men of Strength to mingle ftrong Drink. See Eccl. 10. 16, 17.

105. The Mifery of being governed by weak or wicked Rulers.

Pf. xii. 8. The Wicked walk on every Side when the vileft Men are exalted, Eccl. 10. 5, 6.

xciv. 20. Shall the Throne of Iniquity have Fellowship with thee, which frameth Mischief by a Law.

Prov. xxviii. 15. As a roaring Lion, and a raging Bear, fo is a wicked Ruler over poor People.

Ver. 16. The Prince that wanteth Understanding is a great. Oppreffor.

xxix. 2. When the Wicked beareth Rule, the People mourn.

Eccl. iii. 12. If a Ruler hearken to Lies all his Servants are wicked.

Ver. 16. I saw the Place of Judgment, that Wickedness was there, and the Place of Righteoufnefs that Iniquity was there, Mic. 7.3, 4. x. 16. Woe unto thee, O Land, when thy King is a Child.

iv. 13. Better is a poor and wife Child, than an old and foolish King, that will no more be admonished.

Ifa lix. 14. Judgment is turned away backward, and Justice standeth afar off, Truth is fallen in the Street, and Equity cannot enter. Am. vi. 12. Ye have turned Judgment into Gall, and the Fruit of Righteousness into Hemlock, Hof. 10. 4.

106. Such fet over a People, as a Punishment for Sin. Neh. ix. 37. The Kings whom thou haft fet over us for our Sins have Dominion over Qur Bodies, &c..

Pf. cvi. 4. They that hated them, ruled over them.

Prov. xxviii. 2. For the Tranfgreffions of a Land many are the Princes thereof.

Ifa. iii. 4. I will give Children to their Princes, and Babes fhall rule over them.

Ver. 5. The Child fhall behave himself proudly against the Ancients, &c.

Ver. 12. Children are their Oppreffors, Women rule over them, Ver. 13, 14.

Jer. li. 47. There fhall come Ruler against Ruler.

Lam. v. 8. Servants have ruled over us, Neh. 5. 15.

Hof. xiii. 11. I gave thee a King in mine Anger, and took him away in my Wrath.

Joel ii. 7. Give not thy Heritage to the Heathen that they should rule over them.

Ezra ix. 7. For our Iniquities have we, our Kings and our Priests been delivered into the Hand of the Kings of the Land, to the Sword, Captivity, Spoil and Confufion of Face, Neh. 9. 24. See 1 Sam. 8.

11. to 19.

107. Wicked Rulers, Enemies to Religion. Pf. ii. 2. The Kings of the Earth fet themfelves, and the Rulers took Counsel against the Lord, and against his annointed, Ver. 9. Acts 4. 26.

Luke xxiii. 35. They derided Chrift, John 7. 48. Acts 1. 26.——————— 13. 27. See alfo Ezra 9. 2. Neh. 5. 7.-13. 11. Rev.

-17.2. 14.

16. 14.

108. God's Providence over Kings and Rulers, exalting or abafing them.

Job.

* '

Job xii. 17. He leadeth Counsellors away fpoiled, and maketh the Judges Fools. Ifa. 44. 25.

Ver.18. He loofeth the Bond of Kings and girdeth their Loins with a Girdle.

Ver. 21. He poureth Contempt upon Princes, Pf. 107 40.

xxxiv. 19. He accepteth not the Perfons of Princes, nor regardeth the Rich more than the Poor.

Ver. 24. He fhall break in Pieces mighty Men without Number, and fet others in their ftead.

Pf. lxxv. 7. He putteth down one and fetteth up another, 78. 6. Dan. 2. 21.

Pf. lxxvi. 12. He fhall cut off the Spirit of Princes, he fhall be terrible to the Kings of the Earth.

lxxxii. 1. God ftandeth in the Congregation of the Mighty, he judgeth among the Gods.

CXXXV. 10. Who fmote great Nations, who flew great Kings, 136. 17.

Ifa. xl. 22. 23. He bringeth the Princes to Nothing.

109. Particular Instances of God's Providence in exalting or debafing Rulers.

Acts xiii. 20. God gave them Judges until Samuel the Prophet. Ver, 21. Afterward he gave them Saul.

Ver. 22. When he had removed him, he raised up unto them David, 1 Sam. 20. 30. Pf. 78. 70-89. 19.

1 Chron. xxix. 1. Solomon whom alone thou haft chofen.

Ifa. xix. 13. The Princes of Zoan are become Fools, Ver. 14. The Lord hath mingled a perverse Spirit in the Midft of Egypt.

xxii. 2. All thy Rulers are fled together, Ver. 5. for it is a Day of Trouble and of treading down, and of Perplexity from the Lord. xxix. 10. The Lord hath poured upon you the Spirit of deep Sleep, and hath closed your Eyes, your Rulers hath he covered.

Ver. 14. The Wisdom of their wife Men fhall perish, and the Understanding of their prudent Men shall be hid.

xliv. 1. Thus faith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus whose right Hand I have holden to fubdue Nations before him, Ch. 44. 28. 2 Chron. 36. 22. Ezra 1. 1. to 7.

Jer. xxi. 4 Thus faith the Lord, I will turn back the Weapons of War in your Hands. Ver. 7. I will deliver Zedekiah King of Judah and the People into the Hand of Nebuchadnezzar, Ver. 5. 6.

xxvii. 6. I have given all these Lands into the Hand of Nebuchadnezzar the King of Babylon my Servant.

Ver. 7. All Nations shall serve him, and his Son, and his Son's Son, Jer. 28. 14. See further concerning Nebuchadnezzar, Dan. 2. 37.— 4. 17. 30, 31, 32. 33.-5. 18, 19. 23. 28. Ifa. 14. 12.

Ezek. xxviii. 2. Say unto the Prince of Tyrus, thus faith the Lord God, because thine Heart is lifted up, and thou haft said, I am a God; Ver. 7. I will bring Strangers upon thee, Ver. 8. and they shall bring thee down to the Pit.

110. Duties toward Governors, Praying for them. Pf. lxxii. 15. Prayer fhall be made for him continually.

1 Tim. ii. 1. I exhort, that Supplications, Trayers, Interceffions, and giving of Thanks be made for all Men.