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The things required vnto the administration of their gouernement, are iustice, and loue, the which must be tempered the one with the other, that loue may moderate and sweeten iustice, and iustice may keepe loue vnpartiall and vpright, lest our actions sauouring of nothing but iustice,
seeme rigorous, and expose vs to hatred; and loue not guided nor backed by iustice, degenerate into doting fondnesse, and so expose vs to con∣tempt; whereas both rightly mixed the one with the other, will cause re∣uerence and obedience. The which mixture must bee vsed in all our acti∣ons towards all vnder our gouernement, although these vertues are to bee exercised diuersly, and the one to be more manifested then the other, ac∣cording to occasion, time, persons, and deserts. For though we ought to loue all, yet those especially who excell in Gods graces, and profit most in all religious, Christian, and ciuill duties; and to such, our loue must bee most manifested, to incourage them to go on in their good courses, and to draw others to follow their example. The which was Dauids practice, as he professeth; who, though he were indifferently iust towards all his subiects, yet his loue exceeded towards the faithfull of the land, and those which wal∣ked * 1.1 in a perfect way. But especially our loue and iustice must appeare in our rewards and chastisements, which are the mayne bonds and very si∣newes of gouernement. We must reward those who deserue well, partly by our words, commending their good actions, which is a great incou∣ragement to well-doing, as the Apostle implyeth, when hee vseth it as a reason to perswade inferiours to their duty; Doe that which is good (saith he) and thou shalt haue praise of the same; the which, our Sauiour will vse to * 1.2 his seruants at the last day; Well done, good and faithfull seruant, thou hast * 1.3 beene faithfull ouer a few things, &c. And partly by deeds, the which must sauour both of iustice, in giuing them their due wages, and of loue and bounty, by giuing according to our ability, gifts, to incourage them in their well-deseruing. Chastisements also must be vsed towards them, who will not otherwise be reclaimed from their faults, nor kept in due order, either in words only, by gentle or more sharpe reproofes, according to the quality of the offence, or by stripes, when nothing else will serue. For other∣wise we shall offend against God in neglecting (being his Deputies) to glo∣rifie * 1.4 him in his Iustice; against our selues, by becomming accessary to their sins; against the parties offending, whom we reclaime not, but suffer them to go on in their wickednes to their destructions; against those of the same family, whom by this impunity we incourage to follow their ill example; and the whole society, which is hereby made obnoxious to Gods Iustice. But this correction is only good when it is necessary, being like a sharpe salue and bitter potion, which none that are wise will vse for wantonnesse. And therefore his counsell is good, which (as God himselfe implyeth in * 1.5 the fifth Commandement) perswadeth a godly Matrone, that she should so gouerne her family and cherish it, as that shee should rather seeme their mother then their mistrisse; and draw from them reuerence rather by louing benignitie, then rigorous seuerity. For that obedience is al∣waies more faithfull and acceptable, which floweth from loue, then that which is extorted by feare. Yet if there bee no other helpe, but that cor∣rection must bee vsed as necessary; let vs in it obserue first, iustice, both in making sure, that the fault is committed, and deserueth punishment, and that the punishment doe not exceed the qualitie of the fault, which is to rage and reuenge, rather then chastize for amendment. Secondly, It must be inflicted in loue, which must appeare by moderating the punish∣ment,
that it doe not exceede necessity, respecting the parties reformati∣on; and by the end which wee propound in our corrections, which is the good of the partie, in the amendment of his faults for the time to come, which wee must alwaies aduance by ioyning admonition and good counsaile with our chastizement, with promises of loue and kinde v∣sage when as wee finde any reformation. Lastly, this loue must appeare in our patience and forbearance, not comming rashly and violently vpon the party, but after wee haue tryed in vaine all other meanes. Nor in rage and anger, as though wee came to take reuenge; but tem∣perately and quietly, slowly and with god aduice, as propounding no o∣ther end but the parties amendment.
Psal. 102. 6.
Rom. 13. 3.
Mat. 25. 23.
1. Sam. 2. 29.
Familiā tuā ita rege & confoue, vt te matrem magis tuorum quàm dominam videri velis. Hier. ad Celan.