Fixation, fo the Defcent of this high Office, in the way of an Inheritance, is the best of Monarchies. And therefore, when God eftablished a Government among his own People, he fetled it in David's Houfe for many future Years, and a great while to come: He promifed, that when his own Days were fulfilled and he should fleep with his Fathers, yet he would fet up of the Royal Progeny and Seed after him, and establish the Throne of his 2 Sam. 7. Kingdom for ever; and this that holy Prince magnifies very much in the Favour of God towards him, that he had not only brought him to the Crown, that was but a small thing, in comparison of establishing the Kingdom in his Line, and his Houfe, in longinquum, for many fucceeding Ages and Generations. And thence it is, that we meet fo often with the mention of the Blood-Royal, the Seed, the Progeny, and the Race of Kings, in the Hiftorical Books of the Old Teftament.

per tot.

Hereby God wifely prevents a Vacuum, or Gap in Government, which in Polities and Societies, does oftimes breed as prepofterous and violent Changes, as it does in Nature, and at which, much Disorder and Confufion

is

is too apt to enter: Which must be confef fed by all, who remember the many Tumults, dangerous Ferments, and Convulfions, that infeparably wait upon the Intervals of Government in Elective Kingdoms or Principalities.

So that if, on one hand, there be a hazard of perfonal Infufficiency for the high Charge, on the other, there is almoft a Certainty of lafting Mischiefs, by the high Animofities of clashing Factions, and different Pretenders; and the notorious Sway, and mighty Afcendant, that Intereft and partial Affections have in the Management of Elections, and free Choices, do ballance, at least, the perfonal Defects or Inconveniences in the way of Defcent and Succeffion. And when the Trees went out to chufe their King, the Bramble carried it from the fat Olive, the fweet FigTree, and the gladfom Vine.

But further, It ought to be confidered, that if Children, and the Fruit of the Womb be (in general) a Gift and Heritage that cometh of the Lord, that then it seems utterly unlikely, that God should abandon to Nature, and the fickle Laws of Generation, the Difpofal of, and Succeffion into that high F Office

Office, which is the Inftrument of fo many of his Providences to this lower World, and of fo mighty Importance and Concernment to the Affairs of his Church and his Reli gion.

So that, if by fuch fpecial Direction and Superintendence of Providence, it may be rationally concluded, that the Matter is from God, then we may be confident it will be more bleffed, than the wifeft of Men's Expedients or Inventions without, or against him. And there muft furely be fomewhat extraordinary in it, that when God threatens his feverelt Vengeance against the Nation of the Zech. 9.5, Philiftins, one part of it fhould be, to have the King perifh from Gaza, and a Bastard to dwell in Afbdod.

6.

They who fet up the Spuriout Abimelech, rejoyced in him for a while, and Abimelech rejoyced in them; but this Sun-fhine ended n very foul Weather, and the Matter had a fad and Tragical Period and Catastrophe; Judg.9.19, for a Fire was enkindled in short time between them, and devoured and confumed them both,and revenged the Injuries they had done, by their wicked Combination against ferubbaal and his Houfe, with whom they had dealt untruly and unfincerely. How

20.

How much better then is it, when God takes the Matter into his own Hand, and, together with Inherent Blood and Birthright, conveys and entails the Right to a Crown; and the fame Providence that defigns the Being, affigns the Station, he must hold, and the great Character he must fuftain and manage. This, of old, I am fure, was frankly owned and recognized by St. Ambrofe and St. Auguftine, Learned, as well as Good, Men; Cujus juffu nafcuntur Homines, ejus juffu conftituuntur Principes, inde illis Poteftas unde Spiritus. They thought that God, not only inftituted the Office, and was the Fountain of the Authority, but was intereffed too in the Defignation of the Perfon, in whom it should be invested. Nor did they think it fuch a horrid Impeachment of a wife and gracious Providence, that Princes were fometimes fent to fill the Throne, who in Piety, or Gentles nefs, or other Princely Vertues, fell far (hort of the Perfections of a Conftantine, or a Theo dofius.

But the great Iniquity in the canvafing Questions of this fort, feems to be, That Men confider only the prefent Advantage or Security they propofe, not the lasting SettleF 2

ment,

ment, or true Right of things; for if those were fearch'd into, (methinks) 'tis palpable and plain, that Foundations can neither be fafely nor justly altered: Not Safely, because they who new model Kingdoms, must first force them, and crumble them into pieces, ere they can fit and difpofe them for a new Fabrick; and this will bring in fuch dreadful Shakings and Convulfions, as may endanger the very Being of the Body Politick, and. raife fuch violent Fermentations, as may go near to diffipate and destroy the whole. Not Justly, becaufe Fundamental Laws that con cern the Rights of Empire, and that relate to the Original Conftitution of Things, and that fix and cut out the Channels, wherein for ever they were to run; Thefe, I fay, cannot be altered without the Violation of those Grounds and Laws of Reafon, and Equity, and Social Life, which fupport and protect all Publick Establishments and Intercourfes of Men. And if this might be attempted at the Inftigation of any number of FellowMembers of the fame Society, against the Band of Union or Government, which fecures the Whole, 'tis plain, all Original Conventions or Rights are laid by, as Infignifi

cant