Seven godly and learned sermons preachedSeuen godly and learned sermons preached

These things, (good Brethren) appertain both to our office that are Ministers, and appointed by God to instruct the people, and they appertain also unto all Magistrates, yea and unto the whole people. As for us that are Gods Ministers, and messengers sent unto you, we do stand upon the Tower to cry, and give you warning that the enemies are coming, to show you before hand that your foes are approaching: our part is to declare unto you, that your ⟨image 110⟩fight is not against King, nor Caesar, is not against any Prince or power of this world, but against spiritual enemies, against the Devil and his adherents: our part is to dissuade you from dissension, to dissuade you from discord and division. This must we do aswell to the Magistrate, as to the rest of the people: aswell to him that beareth office, as to him that beareth none. For, we are debtors unto all men, ¹aswell to the rich, as to the poor, to the wise, as to the foolish, to the good, as to the bad. This is also the Magistrates office, this is likewise his duty. Therefore hath God set him up, therefore hath God exalted him above the rest of the people, that he should guide them in peace, & lead them in love and unity together. Thus did David, that good king; he found the whole kingdom left by Saul his predecessor in dissension and division within it self, he found, I say, the whole country at variance and great debate: but by his great wisdom and good governance together, he reduced the same into good order again, and such as before were ⟨image 110⟩enemies, he made faithful friends, and the whole Country he brought to quietness, peace, and mutual unity. And therefore, when he had this brought to pass, for joy that he had thus of mortal foes, made loving friends, he sung, O quàm bonum, ²& quàm jocundum, habitare fratres in unum, O how joyful a thing is it, for Brethren to dwell together in unity. So much it comforted him, so glad was he when he saw his people agree together. Therefore in the Scriptures the Magistrates are called Shepherds, ³for that they ought so to guide the people committed to their charge, as the Shepherd doth his flock. Therefore they are called also Captains,