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The natural World is in the Hand of GOD, and is upheld in it's Being and Order by his Power. The moral World is most upon his Heart, and govern'd in a Way and Manner suted to the Nature and present
State of Man. And as He governs the Spirits of Men when He pleases by immediate Impressions on them; so as more proper to the present Order and Happiness of Mankind, He has appointed the Govern|ment of Men to be by Men. So the Peace, Tranqui|lity and Flourishing of Places are made to depend on the Wisdom and Fidelity of their Rulers, in the good Administration of the Government. While the utmost Misery and Confusion befals those Places where the Go|vernment is ill administred. The Reason is given in the Text, "GOD has set the World on this Foot; it can't stand on any other Bottom. 'The Virtue and Religion of a People, their Riches and Trade, their Power, Honour and Reputation; and the Favour of GOD toward them, with his Blessing on them; do greatly depend on the pious, righteous and faithful Go|vernment which they are under.
GOD hath set: As well in the Nature of Things, as in his Word. Government is not a Creature of Man's Lust and Will, but of Divine Constitution, and from a Necessity in the Nature of things. The very Being and Weal of Society depends thereon.
Government was not in the Original of it assumed or usurped by any one Man. For Instance, Not by Lamech before the Flood, nor by Nimrod after it. In|deed the Spirit of Tyranny, and the Lust of Dominion, seem to have began in them; but Order & Rule was before them. Mankind naturally went into That, and These were the Men who made the first Breaches on it; the One being of the Race of Cain, the other of Ham; who have had some of their Likeness in every Place, and thro' all Generations; that would turn the World upside down, and overthrow the Foundations which GOD has laid.
In a word, Magistracy, like the other Ordinances of Heaven, stands by the Power and Blessing of GOD; who effectually owns it and works by it, establishes the Earth and it abideth. He has graven it deep in he Hearts of Men, even as the Desire of Happiness and
Self-preservation. He has as much ordained, that while the Earth remaineth Civil Order and Government shall not cease; as He had sworn that Seed Time and Har|vest, Cold and Heat, Summer and Winter, Day and Night, shall not. Both the One and the Other e|qually continue to the World's End, absolutely ne|cessary to the Life, Comfort and Welfare of Mankind.