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hath power to call fynods, to be present at them, and to provide that whatsoever is tranfacted in them be according to the mind of God g.

of the God of heaven: for why fhould their be wrath against the realm of the king and his fons. v. 25. And thou, Ezra, after the wifdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, fet magiftrates and judges, who may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all fuch as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not. w. 26. And whofoever fhall not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed fpeedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confifcation of goods, or to imprifonment. v. 27. Bleffed be the Lord God of our fathers, who hath put fuch a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the houfe of the Lord which is in Jerufalem: v. 28. And hath extended mercy unto me, before the king, and his counsellers, and before all the king's mighty princes: and I was strengthened as the hand of the Lord my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of lfrael chief men to go up with me. Lev. xxiv, 16. And he that blafphemeth the name of the Lord, he fhall furely be put to death, and all the congregation fhall certainly ftone him: as well the ftranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blafphemeth the name of the Lord, jhall be put to death. Deut. xiii. 5. And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, fhall be put to death (because he hath fpoken to turn you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to

IV. It

thrust thee out of the way which the Lord thy God commanded thee to walk in) fo fhalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee. v. 6. If thy brother the fon of thy mo÷ ther, or thy fon, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bofom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee fecretly, faying, Let us go and ferve other gods, which thou haft not known, thou nor thy fathers. v. 12. If thou, shalt hear say in one of thy cities, which the Lord thy God hath given thee to dwell there, faying. 2 Kings xviii. 4. He removed the high places, and brake the images,and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brazen ferpent that Mofes had made: for unto those days the children of Ifrael did burn incenfe to it, and he called it Nehufhtan (1 Chron. xiii. 1. to the 9. verfe. 2 Kings xxiii. 1. to the 26. verfe.) 2 Chron. xxxiv. 33. And Jofiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Ifrael, and made all that were present in Ifrael to ferve, even to serve the Lord their God. And all his days they departed not from following the Lord, the God of their fathers. 2 Chron. xv. 12. And they entered into a covenant, to feek the Lord God of their fathers, with all their heart and with all their foul; v. 13. that whofoever would not feek the Lord God of Ifrael, fhould be put to death, whether fmall or great, whether man or woman.

g 2 Chron. xix. 8. Moreover, in Jerufalem did Jehoshaphat fet of the Levites, and of the priests, and

of

IV. It is the duty of people to pray for magiftrates h, to honour their perfonsi, to pay them tribute and other duesk, to obey their lawful commands, and to be subject to their authority for confcience fakel. Infidelity, or difference in religion, doth not make void the magistrate's just and legal authority, nor free the people from their due obedience to himm: from which ecclefiaftical perfons are not exempted n; much authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

of the chief of the fathers of Ifrael, for the judgment of the Lord, and for controverfies, when they returned to Jerufalem. v. 9. And he charged them, faying, Thus fhall ye do in the fear of the Lord, faithfully and with a perfect heart. v. 10. And what cause foever fhall come to you of your brethren that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, ftatutes and judgments, ye thall even warn them that they trefpafs not against the Lord, and fo wrath come upon you, and upon your brethren: this do, and ye shall not tref pafs. v. 11. And behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the Lord; and Zebadiah the fon of Ifhmael, the ruler of the houfe of Judah, for all the king's matters: also the Levites fhall be officers before you. Deal couragioufly, and the Lord fhall be with the good. (2 Chron. xxix. and xxx. chapters.) Mat. ii. 4. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and fcribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Chrift fhould be born. v. 5. And they faid unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written by the prophet.

ÍV, b 1 Tim. ii. 1. I exhort therefore, that first of all, fupplications, prayers, interceffions, and giving of thanks be made for all men: v. 2. For kings, and for all that are in

i 1 Pet. ii. 17, Honour all men, Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

k Rom. xiii. 6. For, for this cause pay you tribute alfo: for they are God's minifters, attending continually upon this very thing. v. 7. Render therefore to all their dues, tribute to whom tribute is due, cuftom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour.

Rom. xiii. 5. Wherefore ye muft needs be fubject, not only for wrath, but alfo for confcience fake. Tit. iii, 1. Put them in mind to be fubject to principalities and powers, to obey magiftrates, to be ready to eve ry good work.

m 1 Pet. ii. 13. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's fake, whether it be to the king, as fupreme, v. 14. or unto governors, as unto them that are fent by him, for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praife of them that do well. v. 16. As free, and not ufing your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the fervants of God,

n Rom. xiii. 1. Let every foul be fubject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be, are ordained of God. 1 Kings ii. 35. And the king put Benaiah the fon of Jehojadah in

much less hath the pope any power or jurisdiction over them in their dominions, or over any of their people; and least of all to deprive them of their dominions or lives, if he shall judge them to be hereticks, or upon any other pretence whatsoever o.

CHAP. XXIV. Of Marriage and Divorce.

MA

ARRIAGE is to be between one man, and one woman; neither is it lawful for any man to have more than one

his room over the hot; and Zadok the priest did the king put in the room of Abiathar. Acts xxv. 9. But Feftus willing to do the Jews a pleafure, anfwered Paul, and faid, Wilt thou go up to Jerufalem, and there be judged of these things before me? v. 10. Then faid Paul, I ftand at Cefar's judgment feat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knoweft. v. 11. For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accufe me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Cefar. 2 Pet. ii. 1. But there were falfe prophets alfo among the people, even as there fhall be falfe teachers among you, who privily fhall bring in damnable herefies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themfelves fwift deftruction, v. 10. But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the luft of uncleannefs, and defpife government, prefumptuous are they, felf-willed: they are not afraid to fpeak evil of dignities; v. 11. Whereas angels who are greater in power and might, bring no railing accufation against them before the Lord. Jude 8. Likewife also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, de

wife,

fpife dominion, and fpeak evil of dignities. v. 9. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil, he difputed about the body of Mofes, durft not bring against him a railing accufation, but faid, the Lord rebuke thee. v. 10. But thefe fpeak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. v. 11. Wo unto them, for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perifhed in the gain-faying of Core.

2 Theff. ii. 4. Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; fo that he as God fitteth in the temple of God, fhewing himself that he is God. Rev. xiii. 15. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. v. 16. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: v. 17. And that no man might buy or fell, fave he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

I. . Gen.

wife, nor for any woman to have more than one husband at the fame time a.

II. Marriage was ordained for the mutual help of husband and wifeb; for the increase of mankind with a legitimate iffue, and of the church with an holy feed c; and for preventing of uncleanness d.

III. It is lawful for all forts of people to marry, who are able with judgment to give their confente. Yet it is the duty of Christians to marry only in the Lordf: and therefore fuch as profess the true reformed religion, fhould not marry with infidels,

I. a Gen. ii. 24. Therefore fhail a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they fhall be one flesh. Mat. xix. 5. And faid, For this caufe fhall a man leave father and mother, and fhall cleave to his wife: and they twain fhall be one flesh: v. 6. Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put afunder. Prov. ii. 17. Which forfaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.

II. b. Gen. ii. 18. And the Lord God faid, It is not good that the man fhould be alone: I will make him an help meet for him.

Mal. ii. 15. And did not he make one? yet had he the refidue of the Spirit: and wherefore one? that he might feek a goodly feed: therefore take heed to your fpirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.

d 1 Cor. vii. 2. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. v. 9. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

III, e Heb. xiii. 4. Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. 1 Tim. iv. 3. Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving, of them who believe and know the truth, 1 Cor. vii. 36. But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely towards his virgin, if the pass the flower of her age, and need fo require, let him do what he will, he finneth not: let them marry. v. 37, Nevertheless, he that standeth ftedfaft in his heart, having no neceffity, but hath power over his own will, and hath fo decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doth well. v. 38. So then, he that giveth her in marriage, doth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage, doth better. Gen. xxiv. 57. And they faid, We will call the damfel, and enquire at her mouth. v. 58. And they called Rebekah, and faid unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? and fhe faid, I will go.

f1 Cor. vii. 39. The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth: but if her husband be dead, fhe is at liberty to be married to

whom

infidels, papists or other idolaters: neither should fuch as are godly be unequally yoked, by marrying with such as are notoriously wicked in their life, or maintain damnable herefies g.

IV. Marriage ought not to be within the degrees of confanguinity or affinity forbidden in the word h; nor can fuch. incestuous marriages ever be made lawful by any law of man, or confent of parties, fo as those perfons may live together as

whom she will; only in the Lord. g Gen, xxxiv. 14. And they faid unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our filter to one that is uncircumcifed: for that were a reproach unto us. Exod. xxxiv. 16. And thou take of their daughters unto thy fons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy fons goa whoring after their gods. Deut. vii. 3. Neither fhalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his fon, nor his daughter fhalt thou take unto thy fon. v. 4. For they will turn away thy fon from following me, that they may serve other gods: fo will the anger of the Lord be kindled again you, and deftroy thee fuddenly. 1 Kings xi. 4. For it came to pass when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. Neh. xiii. 25. And I contended with them, and curfed them, and fmote certain of them, and pluckt of their hair, and made them fwear by God, faying, Yefhall not give your daughters unto their fons, nor take their daughters unto your fons, or for yourselves. v. 26. Did not Solomon king of Ifrael fin by these things? Yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved

man

of his God, and God made him king over all Ifrael: nevertheleis, even him did outlandish women cause to fin. v. 27. fhall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to tranfgrefs against our God, in marrying ftrange wives? Mal. ii. 11. Judah hath dealt treacheroufly, and an abomination is committed in Ifrael, and in Jerufalem: for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the Lord, which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a ftrange god. v. 12. The Lord will cut off the man that doth this: the mafter and the scholar out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the Lord of hofts. 2 Cor. vi. 14. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteoufnefs with unrighteoufnefs? and what communion hath light with darkness?

IV.b(Lev. xviii. chapter.) 1 Cor. v. I. It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and fuch fornication as is not fo much as named amongst the Gentiles, that one fhould have his father's wife. Amos ii. 7. That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn afide the way of the meek: and a man, and his father will go in unto the fame maid, to profane my holy name.

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