BEfore I enter upon the particular Heads of the Enquiry , I shall premise something in General ; lay down certain Theses and Positions , which , being rightly understood , will much further you in your Proceeding , and facilitate the Work which lyes upon your hands ; First , I shall shew you the Basis and Original of Government , and the absolute indispensable necessity , with the Sacredness of it : Next , I shall shew you our Happiness in this Nation , that we have not only Government , but Monarchy , the best of Governments . To begin with the first thing propounded ; Now Gent. That you may understand the Primitive Institution of Government , I shall clear it up to you thus ; Man , you know , is a Congregative , a Sociable Creature 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it is well express'd by the learnedst of the Jews , Moses Ben Maimon in his Moreh Nebochim ; Man ( saith he ) hath a Natural Propension , and Inclination to joyn himself unto Company ; And herein he differs from other Creatures which stand not in need of such Society ; And therefore when God made Man , lest he should be alone , he provided a Companion that was meet and fit for him , namely one of his own kind , a Woman ; and this is a strong argument of the necessity of this bond of Society , even by a kind of natural Instinct . Therefore 't is , the Philosopher calls man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a peaceable and a sociable Creature , and tells us , that he which desires to be alone , must be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 either a God or a Wild Beast : Me-thinks the Arabick words which signifie Man , doth very fitly express his Nature , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which are derived from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 socium esse , associari . Now this Appetite of Association in Man , did , very probably , instigate and stir him up , not by any necessity of Cold , ( as Vitruvius fondly dream'd ; ) nor from the admiration of Eloquence , ( as Cicero imagined , ) to excogitate and find out some way for the Conservation of his Species , and that was Order ; which is Vinculum Vniversi , the bond of the World , without which it would drop in pieces as a Beesom un-bound : Now because Order could not consist without Government , which is the strong fortress of all Interests ; therefore it came to pass that by the common consent of all , Soveraignty and Supreme Power was delegated , and devolved upon one or more that should personate the whole Community ; and they should have power to make Lawes for the rewarding the good , and punishing the bad , which might be a means to secure them against all violence and oppression , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , as Jamblichus a famous Pythagorean Philosopher saith , for Men could not live safe without a Governour ; All which is pointed at , though somewhat darkly , by Plato in his Dialogue of Policy or Civil Government , where he makes a graphical Description of the golden Age of the World under Saturn's Reign ; who saith , That Men then being naked , lived abroad in the open Air , and were nourished with the fruits of the Earth which sprung up of their own accord without any labour of Tillage in great abundance ; for the Hook and Sickle in Saturn's hand , signified the plenty of that time , which they made him the Author of , as likewise the first Inventor of Agriculture and Husbandry . The Famous Sulmonian Poet , ( Ovid I mean ) speaking of this Age , sings the same Note in these Verses , — qui vi ndice nullo Sponte sua sine lege fidem rectumque colebant , Contentique cibis nullo cogente creatis Vivebant — Then it was ( to go on with the Relation ) that Men had all things in common , they were mutual Benefactors one to another , and were free from all injury ; they had as little mind , as cause , to do any wrong ; for there was no injustice in the World at that time , but Men did ( as Seneca phrases it ) aperto ostio vivere . Truth , Faith , Peace , Concord , Amity , and Righteousness carried the whole sway amongst men , and they were without Law , without Order , and without any Government , save only Theocraty ; for God himself , by a singular Providence , did watch over them , and they were under his immediate Gubernation : Now some Poets say , that when Jupiter reigned , then began the Silver Age , being worse than the former , Justice having then taken hir flight from Earth to Heaven ; Oppression , Fraud , Violence , Injustice , Sedition , Impiety , Prophaneness , ( and what-Vice-not ? ) was practised cum licentiâ ; and all things were counted lawful , save what was lawful : and so by degrees the World grew so bad , that it was called the Iron-age ; a Description whereof Horace gives us in the Sixth Ode of his Seventh Book Aetas parentum , pejor avis , tulit Nos nequiores , mox daturos Progeniem vitiosiorem — Then it was in this Age , that Government began to be instituted , and Laws were made for the suppression of Vice and Reformation of Manners : Now it is probable , That this Theorem and notion of the golden Age , Poets and Ancient Philosophers received , by Tradition from the Hebrews ; as some other opinions of their Religion : Or else , they might gather it out of the Prophet Daniel . There the first Empire of the World under the Babylonians , is represented under the form of a golden Image : but however it is , we must not think it had its Denomination from the great plenty of Gold , which was in that time ; No , Plato in his Cratylus tells us , That was not the reason , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , saith he , It was not so , in its own Nature , but is to be taken Tropically or Metaphorically ; for thereby was signified the happy and excellent Condition of Men in that Age. And Hierocles upon Pythagoras his Verses , speaks to the same purpose in these words , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We call it the golden Age ( saith he ) because it was the best , and pure Age of Men , taking the difference of Manners from the property of Metals ; so that , under this Mythology , it seems clear to me , that this Truth is covertly insinuated , that the State of Man in the first Age of the World , was a State of Innocency and Integrity : He was pure and righteous , not contaminated with the pollution and defilement of Vices , but was in favour and well accepted with God. The elegant and complete Volume of the Protoplast Adam , in which was bound up the whole Species of Man , was such an accurate correct Copy , and so exactly printed by the Supreme Being , ( that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , as Plato calls God , The Father and Architect of the World , and all things therein ; ) that there were no Errata to be found , no blots at all : But though this Book was put forth in so fair and legible a Character , and was flourished with many Capital Letters , yet the Worm of Sin did quickly get into it , and did so fret and corrode it , that the whole Impression was utterly defaced and spoiled : Man , I say , continued not long in his happy prosperous Estate ; the Sun of his Glory was soon set , & he was benighted with a sad and disconsolate privation of his Native purity and perfection ; he did not abide in honour , he was but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Son of a Night : nay , the Psalmist saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he did not lodge one Night in Honour , ( for so the Emphasis of the Hebrew Words imports ) but he fell from his primitive righteousness and holiness into the profound Abysse of Sin and Misery , ( I joyn both these together , because , for the most part , they are Twins of the same Womb , and , as it was with Jacob and Esau , the one catcheth the other by the Heel ; ) Then it was that all manner of Villanies and Outrages were committed : Every man became a Wolf and Beast of Prey to another , and the Earth , as the Scripture-phrase is , was filled with Cruelty , Gen. 6. 11. or , as the Chaldee paraphrase hath it , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. rapinis with pillage and robbery , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the word in the Samaritan Version which signifies Oppression : And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Persian Translation , which is Violence ; all different words , though much to the same sense : yea , it is said in another place , The wickedness of Man was great . And it seems he was so habituated in an evil Course , and in all manner of Debauchery , that he was grown obdurate and hardned , and so the Arabick Translation glosses it , when , instead of the Imagination of the thoughts of his heart , it hath this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. pervicacia eorum , their Stiff-neckedness and obdurateness in Sin. And now you will say it was high time some Course should be taken for the reducing the World to some better Order , which could not probably be effected any other way more than by Government ; so that the Summe of all , in one Word , is ; That the Corruption of manners was the generation of Government . So , Gentlemen , I have given you the best Accompt I can , ( considering the un-beaten Path I tread in ) of the Golden Age and the first Institution of Government : And now I shall proceed to the Second thing I propounded to speak of , which I shall endevour to open to you , with as much perspicuity and plainness as I can .

Aristotle in his Polit. saith , That the true reason of Civil Society or a Common-wealth , consisteth principally in the Communion of those that live well and virtuously ; and therefore it is necessary that there should be some Governour and Ruler to adaequate and square Mens Actions for them , according to rule , which Rule is the Law : 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , as the aforesaid Jamblichus saith , Which Commands those things that are sit to be done , and contrarily forbids those things which ought by no means to be done ; The Heathens had a Conceit that Phoroneus , whom they feigned to be the first Law-giver , was likewise the first-man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , as Nonnus calls him ; as if all that lived before him had not been Men for want of Government and Laws . Government , why , 't is the great Atlas , which supports the vast Fabrick of the World ; you may as well imagine the Sun can be without a Principle of Light , as the World without Government and Order , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , as Gregory Nazianzen hath it : Order is the Mother and Security of the Being of all things that have a Beeing ; were it not for this , the whole Foundations of the Earth would be out of Course , and the world would be resolved into its first principles of a miserable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Scripture-Phrase is : It 's Government which Organizes , as I may say , and animates the body of the World ; draws it out of its rude and indigested Chaos ; and quickens it into Action and Usefulness . It 's the Sun of the Political World , without which the World would be as a dark Dungeon ; This is that which refines Men and makes them sit for Converse , who otherwise would be like irregular Stones in a Building , which are full of roughness and corners , and so take up more room than they fill , and , till they be polish'd and made eeven , others too cannot lye neer them ; Government is that , which , Orpheus-like tunes men into a Common-wealth-frame as , he is fabled to do , when by the sweet Melody of his Harp he drew after him Wilde Beasts , Woods , and Mountains ; that is , Men that were wilde and savage by Nature became tame and were charmed into obedience : What a Jewish Author saith of the Divine Law , in that Ancient Book called Zohar , which the Jews believe was writ long before our Saviour's Coming , is true too concerning Political Law ; namely , Lex assumpto Corpore venit in mundum , that the Law assumed a Body when it came into the World ; that is , it was assimilated and made like unto us , it is accommodated and fitted to our necessities and imperfections ; Government is that which sounds a retreat to the Sons of Rebellion , who otherwise by their desperate wickedness would every moment 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Confront God Almighty . Your ranting Beliallists , they are absolute Antinomians , and wish that all Law and Government were banish'd out of the World , that they might sin more freely ; this is that which puts a restraint upon them , in their wicked Courses , and causes them to walk more regularly : Laws you know have generally in them a double power , Directive and Coercive ; the first sets down the duty , the second appoints the penalty for non-performance of the duty . Now 't is the latter only which lewd and licentious men are affected with ; the fear of punishment is that which scares them into some handsome outward Conformity , when-as they have no principle of Ingenuity from within inclining them to it ; The penalty I say , of the Law is that which hales them like a Bear unto the Stake , out of the broad way of destruction , wherein they were posting apace , into the narrow Street mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles , called Strait , I mean Goodness and Virtue ; Government , 't is the Pruning hook to lop off all the luxuriant excrescencies of Vice , and to pare away the superfluity of naughtiness : The Sons of Anak Men of Giant-like Lusts , the mighty Nimrods , that are grown so audacious and incorrigible in their wicked practices , that like a Titan-brood they even threaten Heaven it self with an over-daring impudence , and would , if it were in their power , dethrone God Almighty ; were it not for these Manacles of Government and Law wherewith these unruly persons are tyed , they would run up and down , and make havock of all good men : yea , these prodigies of Impiety , ( Devils incarnate I may call them ) would so rage , and so fearfully terrifie and haunt good men , that , were they not bound down by the strong Cords of the Law , there would be no place of safety for men in the world , no rest for the soles of their Feet , no more than there was for that winged Mercury , Noah's Dove I mean , the Emblem of Innocency , which was sent out by him to make a discovery of the drowned World , in the time of the Flood : I say , were it not for this Curb of Government ; Murders , Adulteries , Incests , Rapes , Robberies , Perjuries , Witchcrafts , and Blasphemies ; would ride in Triumph up and down in every Town of the Country , and thorough-out the Kingdome , so as it might be said of them as of Gad , Behold a Troop cometh : yea , all kind of Villanies , Outrages , and savage Cruelty , would overflow the Nation ; and the face of the Earth would be covered with blood as it was once with water : Were it not for Government , I say , we should all be a Company of Ismaels , Wild-men ; our hands would be against every man , and every mans hand against us ; all the several Counties of the Kingdome would be but as so many Dens of Wild Beasts ; Cruelty would insolently strut it up and down in every place , with her Writ of Privilege in her hand : No mans Life , Goods , or Wife , could be secured ; What , I pray you , do you think would become of Propriety , the Guardian and Tutelar-Angel of Commerce and Traffick , were it not for this Enclosure ? Would not all things lye wast and common ? Would not every Mans Lands and Goods become the possession of the strongest ? So that our Patrimony , and all that we enjoy in the World , if we sold it but for a Mess of Pottage , the price of Esau's Birth-right , we should hardly think we made an ill bargain ; And , as St. Augustine saith well , Talle Jura Imperatorum , & quis audet dicere , Mea est illa villa ; aut , Meus est iste servus ; aut , Domus haec mea est ; Take away Government , and none dare say , These Lands are mine , this Servant is mine , or I have right to this house ; And as for Women , what think you of them ? If they be such as resolve to preserve inviolably the choise Jewel of their Chastity , who would rather choose to dye than live an Example of dishonour to the rest of their Sex ; What rage and fury would beastly libidinous men exercise towards such , who , like Lightning would rend most , where they find most resistance , and would vent their angry passions upon them in as high a manner as Cruelty could invent ; and at last bereave them of their Lives whom they could not bereave of their Honour . The men of Gibeah will abuse the Levite's Wife , yea , and professedly too , abuse her to Death . And what do you think of Life it self , if there were no Government ? Would it not be a Burthen to us , for to live ? and , to be born , a Misfortune ? Life certainly would be but an empty flat Parenthesis of time , a very Wilderness ; we should be in continual fear of being assassmated , Men would be afraid to abide in their own houses for fear that ravenous savage Beasts , should come and become Cut-throats and Cannibals to them ; much less durst they venture abroad ; or if they did , What pannick fears would seize upon them ; every step they took , how would they tremble and quake , as if they trod upon Ice , or as if they were doomed to the old Tryal of Ordeel . Our Lives would but , as the Scripture phrase is , hang before us just as Dumaris his pointed Sword , which hung over his head , while he was at his Banquet , only by a single hair , so that there would be no comfort at all in ones Life . And indeed , I know not how there should : for , as the Spanish Proverb is , Que Quien teme la muerte , no goza la vida , He that fears Death , doth not enjoy his Life : And , in fine , to say no more , Were there no Government , there would necessarily ensue a general Confusion of all things : we should be as the Fishes of the Sea , the greater destroying the smaller . And , as it is said by that Rabbi in Pirke Avoth , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Vnless there were Magistracy , one would devour another alive . But I shall not need to dilate further upon this Subject ; The rise and ground of Government , and likewise the necessity of it , you do , I suppose , fully understand . Blessed be God , we here in this Nation have Government , and that the best too , which is the next thing , Gentlemen , that I would make appear to you , as that which may be of use to you , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , by way of preparing you , to the main and principal business I aim at : Now , that Monarchy which is the Establish'd Government among us , is the most Excellent Government ; God , Nature , Art , and Experience , will sufficiently demonstrate . First , I say , God. He is the sole Monarch of all the World , he is the King of Kings , and Lord of Lords , as the Scripture styles him . He ruleth in the Kingdom of Men , and giveth it to whomsoever he will. Monarchy was the Government which God made choice of to set up , among his people : First in Moses , then in the Judges , then in the Kings . In the several Changes of the Names of the Jewish Government , God still avoided Polyarchy . When Captains , but one Moses in Temporals , one Aaron in Spirituals : when Judges , but one Othniel : when Priests , but one Eli : when Prophets , but one Samuel : and , when for their own ease they joyned others in Commission with them , they presently degenerated and became corrupt ; for the Elders of Israel complained that they turned aside after Lucre , took Bribes , and perverted Judgment . Divine Plato saith , God doth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : Which he meant in this sense ; because , The Geometrical proportion was more agreeable & suitable to Regal Power , because this makes no Confusion of all-together , but giveth unto every one according to his desert and worthiness ; whereas the other , viz. Arithmetical proportion , giveth equally unto all , according to number : and therefore it was , that Lycurgus chased out of Lacedemon Arithmetical proportion , as a popular thing , turbulent and apt to make Commotions .

Secondly , Nature shews it : The Image of this Government is to be seen in Sensitive and Inanimate Creatures : there are in them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , as the Philosopher calls them , some faint adumbrations and resemblances of this Polity ; as for Example , There is but one Sun , in the Firmament . Among Birds , the Eagle hath the Supremacy : and therefore , because of his Dominion and Soveraign'ty over other Birds , you will find in Scripture , Kings are compared with it ; particularly the King of Babylon , is shadowed out under the similitude of a Great Eagle : Among Beasts , the Lyon is Lord Paramount ; if you dive into the Sea , there you will see a King of Fishes ; In the Common-wealth of the Bees , there is one that is the King : In the Microcosm of Man , you may observe the same thing ; Several Members do their homage and service to one Body , the several Senses of the body are governed by one Mind ; and one Reason moderates all the various and manifold Affections of the mind .

Thirdly , Art , which imitates Nature , doth affect this political frame : In a Family , you know , there is but one Master ; in an Army , but one General ; in a Ship , but one Governour : And so , One King amongst the people .

Last of all , Experience doth irrefutably evince the truth of this Assertion ; Consult all Authors that are most skilful in Politicks , and they will all tell you that Monarchy doth excel all other Governments ; To begin with Homer , doth not he say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Hear what Aristotle speaks , that Lynceus of all political Science , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Monarchy , saith he , is to be preferred as the most Divine Government ; and , to name no more , although I could heap up infinite testimonies in this kind ; take , in the last place , that lofty Athenian Poet Euripides , doth not he sing to the same Tune ? 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Two Governours ( saith he ) cannot stand together in one Kingdome , for it would be an occasion of Sedition and Commotion : But why do I spend time in giving you proofs in this kind ? when Holy Writ it self , doth so pregnantly conclude the same thing ? You read Judg. 21 In those dayes there was no King in Israel , and what follows ? Every one aid what was right in his own eyes . Observe the words , for they are very Emphatical ; It is not said , There was no Government in those dayes , but they wanted Monarchy the most excellent Government , and this was the cause of all disorder both in Church and State ; for the words , without any streining , will bear that Construction , viz. Every one did what was right in his own eyes , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So the Arabick Translation renders it , that is , Quod libebat , Every man did what he list ; Mary , ( may some say ) there was a brave time indeed ; that was a great privilege , For a man to be sui Juris , to act without control ; Alas ! that which you call priviledg is a great and sad Judgment , as you may see by comparing this place with the 78 Psalm , where it is said , God gave them their own desires , speaking of the people of Israel ; and what followed ? In the 31 Verse , you shall find , that The Wrath of God came upon them and slew them ; Such a Liberty as this , for a Man to have his full Swinge in a Licentious Course , is worse than bondage ; for , the greatest freedom in the World is to be able to do nothing but what we should do : Again , the Tryal that hath been made of other Governments both abroad and at home , will abundantly commend the excellency of this above any other : for , Contraria juxta se posita magis eluc●s●unt , is a Rule in Logick , Contraries do best appear , when most directly opposed . Travel into the Roman Empire , and you will find it verified there : The Romans when they shook off their Government by Kings , History testifies , they had so many Changes , that in the space of 600 years , they tryed all forms and kinds of Government in the world : Of Two , by their Consuls ▪ of Three , by their Triumvirate ; of ten thousand , by their Tribunes : But when they found that the further off they departed from Monarchy they lost themselves , and were involved still in greater mischiefs and dissentions , at last they set up One pro unâ vice unoque anno . These were their Dictators , and in time they grew to be Perpetual : which Perpetuity begat Monarchy . But what need we travel so far , when we here in this Nation , have had such sad and woful experience of the truth thereof , in our late miserable confused Anarchy ? when that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , as Plato calls the unruly Multitude , The many headed Hydra , did reign , shall I say , or rather rage ? when , like the great Leviathan it played his pranks among us . Truly did , that Glorious Martyr of ever-blessed memory , K. Charles the first , prophesy concerning this Government , in that incomparable Treatise of his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . As it makes a shew , saith he , to the People to have more eyes to sorcsee , so they will find it hath more mouths too , which must be satisfied ; and , at best , is rather a monstrosity than any thing of perfection beyond that of right Monarchy ; where Counsell may be in many as the Senses , but the supreme power can be but in one as the Head. But I shall not need to labour in such a plain thing , which carries its Evidence with it : You have heard , We have Monarchy the most excellent Government : Now , Gentlemen , give me leave to tell you , as a further degree of our happiness , That the best kind of Monarchy obtaineth in this Kingdome : Bear with me a little , if I be too long in these things , I shall be very short in the other part of the Charge touching your Enquiries ; But I would fain speak something to this Point , because it may be of no little use to you and others , to establish them in an obediential frame of Spirit . For as it is in Religious matters , so it holds in Political too ; that one which is not well grounded in the Fundamentals of polity and government , will quickly fall away , and become a Rebel to his King ; as he that is not well rooted and instructed in the first Principles and grounds of Religion , will prove an Apostate , and fall away from the Truth which he prefessed : We have , I say , absolute Monarchy , and herein we differ from the Lacedemonian-Kings , who were subject to their Ephori , which had a power above them : No , Oursagrees with the Persian-Government ; for , their King had plenary power in all things , not subject to be called to account by any person whatsoever : and so is ours , if you will believe Cambden , a famous Antiquary ; who saith , That the King of England , supremam potestatem , & merum imperium habet , He hath supreme power and absolute Command in his Dominions ; and So Bracton , a sage profound Lawyer , in ancient time , speaks to the same purpose , Omnis quidem sub Bege , & ipse sub nullo , sed tantum sub Deo : So that it is an unquestionable truth , that the King is subject to no over-ruling power of man , and that he is free from all humane Coercion and Restraint , I do the rather insist upon this ; because of those seditious jesuitical Principles , that were infused into the minds of the Credulous vulgar , in the times of Confusion , by some Ambitious Democratical , Antimonarchical men ; namely , That , Constituens est prius Constituto , Rex singui● major , universis minor ; that The King is greater than any particular single man , but less than the whole Body of men in a Nation . What an absurd Tenet this is , will easily appear if it be duly examined ; I would fain know of these men , whether the King is not bound as much to protect all his Subjects universally , as to protect any one singly ; and are not all then bound no less universally than singly to honour the Kings Sacred Person , obey his Commands , and assist and defend him in all dangers ? And another new devised State Quirk they had , to wit , That the King cannot be without the People , but the People may be without a King ; and so conclude hence , The People are more excellent than the King. If there be any force in this way of arguing , by the same reason it will follow , that a Flock of Sheep are more Excellent than a Man , because the Shepherd is found out for the Sheep , and not the Sheep for the Shepherd ; for if there were no Flocks of Sheep , there would be no need of a Shepherd . What a strange Inconsequence there is in this kind of Argument you may easily discern . This makes as much to the purpose , as that Parson's argument , who would undertake to prove the Parish must pave the Church and not he , because it was written in the Prophet , Paveant illi , Ego non paveo ; or , that no man ought to have the Sign of the King's-Head , Queens-Head , &c. hanging at his Dore , because the Scripture saith , There shall be no sign given but the Sign of the Prophet Jonas : We had need be careful , we be not infected with such Sectarian Principles , these are dangerous Sophisms that lead the way to Rebellion , and tend to the Alteration and Subversion of Government ; therefore as an Antidote and Preservative against such poysonous Positions as these , I shall prescribe you to take the wholsome Advice , which Solomon gives : Fear God , and Honour the King , and meddle not with them that are given to change : or as the Hebrew hath it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is , with Rebels and Seditious persons , for the word in that language signifies both the former and latter .

But Gent. that I may come up closer to the business in hand , you have heard how necessary Government is : and the Excellency of Monarchy above any other kind , hath been fully demonstrated to you . Now you must know , as to the Exercise of this Government , that it is in the body Politick , as in the Natural body , every Member hath its proper Office and place assigned it ; and all the Members do conspire together for the safety of the whole Body . You Gentlemen , are called here this day to bear a share in the Executing the Laws of this Government , in your Capacities ; Now as Government cannot consist without Laws , so neither is Law of any validity or force without Execution , which is the life thereof : And here I desire to press this point of Execution , because I perceive there is a great defect in that particular : And I would not only speak to you Gentlemen , but to my self , and to you ( pace quod fiat vestra ) my noble and worthy Co-adjutators , to whom the sacred Oracles of Justice are committed , that we may be all stirred up , and quickned to the performing of the Duties of our several places ; It is commonly said in reference to the Preaching of the Gospel , that Application is the Life of Doctrine . It is so in respect of the Law too ; for all those great Privileges , and rich Commodities , which the Law is pregnant with , will all prove abortive without this . The Law , I say , hath no strength of it self to bring forth , unless the Magistrate obstetricates , and puts-to his helping hand by a diligent and serious Application . The Law without Execution is like a Cloud without Rain , which promises Rain but gives none ; The Law , 't is a deep Well of all things necessary for the support of our well Beeings , but the Magistrates are the Buckets , wherewith the people draw out the Waters of all their comfortable Enjoyments : As a Magistrate without Law , is a Workman without his Tools ; so the Law without a Magistrate is but a dumb Idol . He it is that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Living Law. Aristotle saith , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As good no Law at all as not Executed : The whole body of the Law , without the Soul and Vital heat of Execution to animate and enliven it , is but as a Dead Carcass , and exposed to Contempt , therefore we must do by the Law , as we read Elisha did with the Child of the Shunamitish Woman ; Holy Writ saith , that he lay upon the child , and put his mouth upon his mouth , and his eyes upon his eyes , and his hands , upon his hands , and he stretched himself upon the child , and the flesh of the Child waxed warm ; So we must do by the Law , incumbere legi , stretch our selves , & lay out our utmost improved abilities upon it , pour into it the Aqua Vitae of Impartial Justice , which may Cause it to speak and revive , then move it up and down by a Spirit of activity , and by our nimble diligence , Magistrates are styled Cods in Scripture , but if they do not use industry and assiduity in the Execution of the Law , these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 will be but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 meer Idol-Gods , and signifie Nothing . The Law of it self is like Mephibosheth , lame , and cannot go , unless it leans upon the Staff of the Magistrates Authority . Or , it is like the Pool of Bethesda which we read of in the Gospel , where every diseased person that is infected with any ulcerous sore , or Contagion of Vice , may be washed from his filthiness and healed ; but first the Angel must stir the water , I mean the Magistrate , that is the Tutelar Angel of the Law , he must be active and stirring in putting of it in Execution , or else it will be of no efficacy . Although we stand up to the Chin in the waters of Privileges contained in the Law , have never so great a Confluence of them ; yet we shall but Tantalize , and never be able to taste of the fruit thereof , unless the Magistrate plucks it for us , and hands it out to us . Gentlemen , by what I have said , you may perceive the necessity of the Laws Execution ; and oh that you would be perswaded to Contribute towards its necessity ! Oh that we would all in our several Spheres resolve to lay out our diligent endevours , for the effectual Carrying on of this laudable and excellent work . You may be sure it will quit Cost , for we shall have plentiful Comings in ; it is that which you and we are called to this day , let us jointly bend our forces this way . It is reported of the Serpent Amphisbena that it hath an head at either end , neither of which can move without the Consent of the other ; and if they strive , they tear the body in pieces . How true this is , I know not ; but I am sure , it is so with us , who are the Ministers of Justice in reference to the Law ; That can never be practicated and drawn out into use , unless we , that are Commissionated for the Keeping the Peace , and you Jury-men , and other subordinate Officers of the Court , in our several Orbs , do concurr and conspire for the promoting the ends thereof : If there should be any Contention among us , so as one should draw this way , another that way , there would be an Obstruction of the Streams of Justice , so as they would never run freely to our refreshment : and then that great Voluminous body of the Law , had as good be torn in pieces , for any benefit we shall have by it : It will be with us in this Case , as it was with those two Pitchers floating upon the water , which the States of the Vnited-Provinces , upon some difference between them and our Nation , gave for their Impress with this Motto , Si collidimur , frangimur , If we once fall a dashing , we shall all fall in pieces .

Gentlemen , You ought to lead the way in this business , you being the Primum Mobile in it ; you are our Eyes and Ears , and the Countries Mouth , we know nothing but what you present ; and the Country , whose Representatives you are , relye upon you for the discovery of their Grievances . If things amiss be not reformed , you may thank your selves for it ; if you would have your Diseases Cured , discover them : You , I say , must lead the way , and not stand off to see who will begin first ( as the fashion of some is ) ; that is a piece of ill-placed good manners : Even as the Rats in the Fable , they all agreed it was fit the Cat should have a Bell about her Neck , that they might have warning of their Enemies Coming ; but the Demur was , Who should put it on , and none would do that . The Ravish'd Virgin under the Law Deut. 22. was to Cry out : So your Office is to Enquire , and to present Offences ; and if you conceal them , your Silence in this kind is a Crying-Sin . You are so many political Chirurgions , and your duty is to launce the publick Sores of the Country , and to search the depth of those wounds that the Corrupt manners of Licentious men , have made in the Body Politick , by the Probe of your Inquisition , and to lay them open ; and therefore , me-thinks , Your Name is sitly adapted to your Employment , You being called The Grand Inquest : But , Gentlemen , I shall now deal more particularly with you , and give you some Directions that you may Steer your Course aright , in the Business you are Embarqued in .