The Mystery of Magistracy Unvailed: Or, God's Ordinance of Civil Government (2/2)

Of the People's Duty Under Wicked Rulers, Both Towards God and Them.

Towards the evil rulers themselves.

1. To bewail their abominations, and stand off from their defilements. Go through the midst of the city, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh, and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof, Ezek. 9:4. Ephraim is joined to idols, let him alone, Hos. 4:17. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them, Eph. 5:11.

2. To pray for them as enemies and persecutors, for their restraint and conversion. Who will have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth, 1 Tim. 2:4. And he kneeled down and cried in a loud voice, Lord lay not this sin to their charge, Acts. 7:60.

3. To own our subjection to them, only as to a plague, judgment, and curse, groaning and complaining under the burden, as under the lion's paw. Behold we are servants this day; and for the land thou gavest unto our fathers, to eat the fruit thereof, and the good thereof, behold we are servants in it: And it yieldeth much encrease unto the kings, whom thou hast set over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress, Neh. 9:36,37.

4. Not to confederate with them, or engage to their upholding by oath, covenant, &c.

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