And on Thursday the 20th , being the Day of publick Thanksgiving for His Majesty, our most Gracious Sovereign Lord King GEORGE's peaceable and happy Accession to the Throne, I preach'd again in the Morning upon part of the Second Lesson appointed for that Service, viz 1 Pet. 2. 13, 14. Submit Yourselves to every Ordinance of Man for the Lord's sake: Whether it be to the King, as Supreme; or unto Governours, as unto them that are sent by him for the Punishment of Evil-doers, and for the Praise of them that do well.

And forasmuch as I had a great deal to say upon this Text, I prosecuted it, and further preach'd upon it in the Afternoon.

At first I paraphrastically explain'd the Words, and illustrated them by several other Scripture-Texts, expresly enjoyning the same Duty; and then I proceeded to shew from them;

I. In what Things we are to Submit to, and Obey, our Supream Governour, and all others in Authority under Him: And that is

1st, In All Things (whether relating to Church or State) which GOD has commanded.

2dly, In All Things that GOD has not evidently forbidden, and are of an indifferent Nature; i. e. Neither Good nor Bad in themselves; but cease to be so, when Commanded, or Forbidden; in which Case, our Obedience becomes necessary and indispensable, both with respect to Spiritual and Civil Matters.

II. Why we are thus oblig'd to Submit and to Obey: And that is for these Reasons principally, viz.

1st, Because GOD has commanded it, which (no doubt) were of it self a sufficient Obligation, tho' there were no other Reason for it. But,

2dly, We are oblig'd to submit and to obey, because GOD has not only enjoyn'd this in his written Word, but in those Precepts of Reason, which He has by Nature imprinted upon every Man's Heart.

3dly, Because as no Government can subsist without Obedience to it, so neither would Men (generally speaking) be Just, Honest, Quiet, and Happy, without it: And,

4thly, Because Men's Obedience, both to the Divine and Human Laws, greatly tends to the Honour of GOD, as well as the Good of Mankind; and on the contrary, their Disobedience thereto is absolutely destructive of both.

III. What is the End of Government: And that is Twofold, as our Apostle shews; viz.

1st, For the Correction and Restraint of Evil-doers; And,

2dly, For the Protection and Encouragement of Them that do well; i. e.

Such as are Obedient both to GOD, and to his Vicegerent.

From all which I further prov'd,

IV. and lastly, The absolute Necessity of Government; because without it there can be no Publick Service or Worship of GOD duly perform'd, nor any Moral or Civil Good done or promoted; nor indeed any Ill restrain'd, or prevented, in this World. For 'tis more than probable, that without a Lawful Government, and a Dutiful Obedience to Governours, there would be nothing but Anarchy, Confusion, Oppression, Rapine, Injustice, and the like, in the World; all good Order and Peace should then be banish'd from the face of the Earth, the Strong would oppress and invade the just Possessions of the Weak, and no man could enjoy any thing