And all the Men of his City, fhall stone him with Stones, that be die: So fhalt thou put away Evil from among you, and all Ifrael fhall bear, and fear.

It appears from thefe Paffages that a Course of wilful Difobedience to Parents, was by God's Appointment a capital Crime, a Crime to be punished with Death: And that altho' the Punishment has not for many Ages been inflicted by Men, and Children on this Account are more fearless of being guilty of the Crime, God is nevertheless provoked, and it may be reasonably apprehended (tho' the guilty are suffered to escape Punishment among Men) that God will not fuffer them to escape, when he vifits a Land for the Iniquities of thofe that dwell

in it.

As for those whom God has appointed to be fpiritual Guides to his People, Teachers, and Minifters of his Word, we have the following Laws to direct our Behaviour towards them, viz.

In Theff. v. 12, 13. where St. Paul fays, We befeech you Brethren, to know them, which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you ; and to esteem them very highly in Love for their Works Sake.

In Heb. xiii. 7. it is written, Remember them which have the Rule over you, who have spoken unto you the Word of God: Whofe Faith follow, confidering the End of their Converfation. And in the 17th Verfe of that Chapter it is faid, Obey them that have the Rule over you, and fubmit yourselves: For they watch for your Souls, as they that must give Account, that they may do it with Joy, and not with Grief: For that is unprofitable for you.

Thefe divine Precepts teach us the following Particulars, viz. 1. That it is our Duty to respect, and love the Ministers of the Gospel, and to become acquainted with thofe of them whofe Labours we attend. 2. That fo far as they deliver to us the

Word

Word of God, it is our Duty to receive it, and to be obedient to it: But it is our Duty alfo to examine every Doctrine they teach, and every Inftruction, which (as a Matter of Practice incumbent on us) they inculcate: We are, I fay, to examine them by the facred Scriptures, and not to receive them merely because delivered by our Teachers.

The Word of the Lord plainly fhews, he would have us to take this Course.

When our bleffed Saviour preached to the Jews, he directed, and commanded them to fearch the Scriptures, fee John v. 29. he appealed to thofe facred Writings as a Proof of the Verity of his Doctrine, faying, they, are they which testify of me.

The Commendation given of the Bereans, (Alts xvii. 11.) on the Account that they fearched the Scriptures daily (to know) whether thofe Things (the Apostle preached) were fo; that is, were according to them, is an Evidence that God wou'd have us to examine by the Scriptures, the Things we hear preached.

And our doing this is a Matter of Importance, as we may reasonably conclude from the Injunction which Chrift gives to all People, Mark iv. 24. Take heed what you bear. This Precept imports, that it is the Duty of every one, that hears, to examine by the Scriptures what is spoken, and thereby to judge, whether it is true, and fit to be received, or not.

Further, That we are thus obliged, appears from Ifa. viii. 19, 20. in the 19th Verse the Prophet fhews the People, that they ought not to be influenced by thofe, who would perfuade them to feek for Inftruction and Direction to them that have familiar Spirits, but shou'd apply themselves to God, and his Word, if they wou'd know his Will, and their own Duty. Shou'd not a People feek unto their God? To the Law, and to the Teftimony: If they (if Men, or Angels from Heaven) Speak not according

to this Word (the Word of the Lord delivered by his Servants the Prophets) it is because there is no Light (or Truth) in them.

And again, 1 John iv. 1. it is faid, Believe not every Spirit, but try the Spirits, whether they are of God: Because many falfe Prophets are gone out into the World.

But if any People fhall oppofe, or obftruct the Minifters of the Gospel in the faithful Performance of their Office, and in preaching, not their own. private Opinion, but the Word of God, they are guilty of an heinous Sin, and hinder the Succefs of the Gospel Ministry, and greatly provoke God; and altho' they may not be liable to Punishment from Men, yet they have Reason to fear the the Effects of the divine Difpleafure, when the Judgments of the Almighty are brought on a Land for the Iniquities of the People.

As for Kings and fubordinate Magiftrates, God by his Law requires thofe under their Authority to honour, and to obey them.

Kings, and Queens may be confidered as political, or civil Parents. Kings fhall be thy Nurfing-fathers, and their Queens thy Nurfing-mothers, it is faid in Ifaiab xlix. 23.

The great God has faid, Honour the King (1 Pet. ii. 17.) I couníel thee to keep the King's Commandment, and that, in Regard of the Oath of God. (It is written in Eccles. viii. 2.) That first of all, Supplications, Prayers, Interceffions, and giving of Thanks be made for all Men: For Kings, and for all that are in Authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable Life in all Godliness and Honesty. For this is good, and acceptable in the Sight of God cur Saviour. (1 Tim. ii. 1, 2, 3.) Curse not the King, no not in thy Thought. Eccles x. 21. Thou fhalt not revile the Gods (the Judges, as the Word is tranflated in the Margin) nor curfe the Ruler of thy People, (Exod. xxii. 28.)

The

The holy God by his Apoftle fays, Let every Soul be fubject unto the higher Powers. For there is no Power but of God: The Powers that be, are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore refifteth the Power, refifteth the ordinance of God: And they that refift, shall receive unto themfelves Damnation. Rom. xiii. 1, 2.

And therefore, they who refufe due Honour and Obedience to the lawful Magiftrate, have Reason to be afraid of the divine Wrath in the Day when God vifits a Land for the Iniquities of the Inhabitants. The Apoftle adds, Wilt thou not then be afraid of the Power, &c. Te must needs be fubject not only for Wrath, but also for Confcience Sake. For, for this Caufe, pay you Tribute also; for they are God's Minifters, &c. Render therefore unto all their Dues: Tribute, to whom Tribute is due, Custom, to whom Cuftom, Fear, to whom Fear, Honour, to whom HoSee Rom. xiii. 3, 5, 7•

nour.

It is a Charge committed to the Minifters of the Word of God to teach the People the Duty they owe to their civil Governours; in Tit. iii. 1. Put them in mind to be fubject to Principalities, and Powers, and to obey Magiftrates.

And the divine Law fays to the People, Submit yourselves to every Ordinance of Man for the Lord's Sake: Whether it be to the King, as Supreme; or unto Governours, as unto them that are fent by him for the Punishment of evil Doers, and for the Praise of them that do well. 1 Pet. ii. 13, 14.

Fear thou the LORD, and the King: And meddle not with them that are given to Change. For their Calamities fhall rife fuddenly, and who knoweth the Ruin of them both. See Prov. xxiv. 21, 22.

It may well be observed, that those who refift Magiftrates in the right Exercife of their Authorities, and rebel against their lawful Governours, not only expose themselves to eternal Damnation in the next C

World,

World, but bring upon themselves, and their Families, Ruin, and Deftruction in this.

It appears from the Hiftory of Nations, and Kingdoms that Multitudes of Perfons, and Families, have been ruined and destroyed for the Sin of Rebellion against their lawful Governours.

The Confideration hereof fhou'd reftrain all People from oppofing either the just authority of their King, or of the fubordinate Magiftrates.

IX. OPPRESSORS are another Sort of Perfons, who have Reason to fear the Effects of God's Wrath in the Day of his Vifitation for Sin.

As Rebellion includes in it the various Sorts of Mif behaviour, and Oppofition of Inferiors to their Superiors in Authority; fo OPPRESSION Comprehends the several Abuses, which Superiors in Authority, or Power, are guilty of towards their Inferiors.

When they exact from Persons fubject to them Contributions, or bodily Labours, which are not due, or when they restrain their natural Liberties, without legal Authority, or Reason, they are Oppreffors, and may be reckon'd among the Tranfgreffors of the fifth Commandment, which must be understood not only as obliging Inferiours to the Performance of the Duties they owe to their natural, fpiritual, and civil Parents, to all in Authority over them, and to forbid every Thing that is inconfiftent with the Practice of thofe Duties, fo very reasonably it fhou'd be understood to oblige all in Authority, and Power, faithfully to discharge the Duties they owe to those who are fubject to them, and likewise to forbid every Thing that is inconfiftent therewith, and confequently to forbid Oppreffion.

The Nature of the Sin of Oppreffion, according to the Account of it in Holy Scriptures, will be evident, if we confider Exod. iii. 7, 9. The Lord faid, I have Surely feen the Affliction of my People, which are in Egypt, and have beard their Cry, by Reason of Tafk

Mafters,