Thesis 10

10. THESIS.

As de facto 'tis evident in the examples related (besides divers others recorded in Scripture) that good Magistrates did always meddle for God and his truth, against false worship and seducers, so that they did it de jure, and ought to do so is as clear from the approbations, special testimonies, promises, rewards and blessings given by God of them, made to them, and bestowed by God on them for so doing. There's hardly any place mentioning what the Patriarchs, Judges, Kings, Magistrates did in this kind, but there's some commendation, some blessing, some special testimony from God for so doing recorded in those places (2 Chronicles 14:2, 3, 4). Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God, for he took away the Altars of the strange gods and the high places, &c. So 'tis said of Jehosophat, Hezekiah, Josiah, they did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, are highly commended, have many blessings upon themselves and their Kingdoms, and all for commanding by their Princely power their subjects to good, and removing all false worship and the means of it. God will not hide from Abraham the thing that he was doing concerning Sodom, and the reason is given, because he will command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord. Jacob took away the strange gods from his household and all that were with him, and God manifests his approbation of it, the terror of God was upon the cities round about Jacob, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob. Yes, God gives such testimony to Princes and Magistrates suppressing false Prophets and false worships, that he has rewarded with temporal blessings wicked Kings for so doing, as is evident in Jehu, who for destroying Baal out of Israel, though he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, yet his children of the fourth generation should sit on the throne of Israel (2 Kings 10:28, 29, 30).