Secondly,1 this extolleth the calling of Magistrates. As Jacob honoured Josephs children, when he said they should be called after his name: so God honoureth the Magistrates, when he gives them his own name, calling them Gods, as though there were a kind of Godhead in them.2 These things pertain to the wise, and they themselves do not always see it, yet he which hath a spiritual eye, and carries the pattern of GOD in his hart, may see another likeness of God in Magistrates, than in common persons. As the builders of the Temple had a special wisdom and spirit,3 which God gave them for that work which they were chosen too:4 so when Samuel had anointed David, he saith, that the spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward: as though he had another spirit after than he had before. ⟨p. 702⟩There is difference between Kings & inferior Magistrates:5 for the Prince is like a great Image of God, the Magistrates are like little Images of God, appointed to rule for God, to make laws for God,6 to reward for GOD, to punish for God,7 to speak for God,8 to fight for God, to reform for God: and therefore their Battles are called the Lords battles, and their Judgements the Lords Judgements, and their Throne the Lords Throne, and the Kings themselves his Kings, to show that they are all for God, like his hands: by some he reacheth mercy,9 by some justice, by some peace, by some counsel, as Christ distributed the loaves and the fishes by the hands of his Disciples. This God requires of all when he calls them Gods, to rule as he would rule, judge as he would judge, correct as he would correct,10 reward as he would reward, because it is said, that they are instead of the Lord God• that is, to do as he would do, as a Scholar writes by a Copy. This is a good study for Magistrates in all their judgements, to consider what GOD would do, because they are in stead of God, I rule for God, I speak for God, I judge for God, I reward for God, I correct for God: then as he would do and determine, so must be my sentence.11 As we should think how Christ prayed before ⟨p. 703⟩we pray, and how he spake before we speak, because his actions are our instructions: so they should think how Christ would judge before they judge,12 because Gods law is appointed for their law.
Secondly,1 this extolleth the calling of Magistrates. As Iacob honored Iosephs children, when he said they should bee called after his name: so God honoureth the Magistrates, when he giues them his owne name, calling them Gods, as though there were a kinde of Godhead in them.2 These things pertayne to the wise, and they themselues do not alwayes see it, yet he which hath a spirituall eye, and carries the patterne of GOD in his hart, may see another like nesse of God in Magistrates, than in common persons. As the builders of the Temple had a speciall wisedome and spirit,3 which God gaue them for that worke which they were chosen too:4 so when Samuel had anoynted Dauid, hee saith, that the spirite of the Lord came vppon Dauid from that day forward: as though hee had anoeher spirite after than he had before. ⟨p. 702⟩There is difference betweene Kings & inferior Magistrates:5 for the Prince is like a great Image of God, the Magistrates are like little Images of God, appoynted to rule for God, to make lawes for God,6 to reward for GOD, to punish for God,7 to speak for God,8 to fight for God, to reforme for God: and therefore their Battelles are called the Lordes battailes, and their Iudgements the Lordes Iudgements, and their Throne the Lords Throne, and the Kings themselues his Kings, to shewe that they are all for God, like his hands: by some he reacheth mercy,9 by some iustice, by some peace, by some counsel, as Christ distributed the loaues and the fishes by the hands of his Disciples. This God requires of all when he cals them Gods, to rule as he would rule, iudge as he would iudge, correct as he would correct,10 reward as hee would reward, because it is said, that they are instead of the Lord God that is, to doe as he would doo, as a Scholler writes by a Copie. This is a good studie for Magistrates in all their iudgementes, to consider what GOD would doo, because they are in steede of God, I rule for God, I speake for God, I iudge for God, I reward for God, I correct for God: then as hee woulde doo and determine, so must be my sentence.
- 1Gen. 48. 16.
- 2Pro. 24. 23.
- 3Exod. 31. 3. & 35. 31.
- 41. Sam. 16. 13▪
- 51. Sa. 28. 26
- 62. Cro. 9▪ 6.
- 7Numb. 9. 8.
- 8Psal. 2. 6.
- 9Mat. 14. 19.
- 102. Cro. 9. 8.
- 11Mat. 11. 29.
- 12Deu. 17. 10.
