Seven godly and learned sermons preachedSeuen godly and learned sermons preached

Therefore likewise are they called the Heads, ¹for that, like as the head governeth the whole body, so should they rule and govern the people, as members of their body. Therefore in like are they called Fathers, for that the people are so in subjection unto them, as ⟨image 111⟩the child is in obedience under his father. But chiefly it is required in them, it is chiefly, and above all other things required in such as are Magistrates, that they them selves know God, that they them selves, I say, above all other men, have perfect knowledge of God, and his Laws; so that the people by that mean may follow him, and they altogether may follow God. Therefore in the Book of Deuteronomy, God himself gave in charge to all such as should become Magistrates, saying, He that is called to bear Office, what ever he be that is appointed to be a Ruler, shall first write out all this Book of my Law with his own hand. And again, he said, Non recedet liber iste ab ore tuo, ²This Book of mine shall not depart from thy mouth, this Book of mine shall not be out of thy hand. This is Gods charge to all them that bear office, this is his charge and commandment given unto them. Therefore that good king David, when God had appointed him to be king and chief Ruler of his people,³ he said, Si ⟨image 111⟩dedero oculis meis somnum, aut palpebris meis requiem antequàm inn•uero domum Domino meo, & Tabernaculum Deo Jacob. If I shall give my self unto sleep, or mine eye lids any rest, before that I find out a house for my God, and a Tabernacle for the God of Jacob &c. as who would say, I will never study mine own matters, I will never go about mine own business, before I have established the matters of my God, and the business of the God of Jacob. Therefore in like manner Hezekiah, ⁴that virtuous king, when he was called by God to bear office, would not go home to his own affairs, before he had purged the Church of God. Justinian also, that good and godly Emperor was wont to say, That he as much cared for the preservation of Gods Church, as he did for the safeguard of his own Soul. And thus, look what care David the prophet of God had over Gods people: look what care that virtuous king Hezekiah had: look what care that good and godly Emperor Justinian had, the same, and the like ought every good Magistrate to have: