The sermons of Master Henry Smith gathered into one volume. Printed according to his…The sermons of Maister Henrie Smith gathered into one volume. Printed according to his…

I have said ye are Gods &c. First this name informs us what kind of Rulers and Magistrates we should choose: those which excel all other men like Gods amongst men. For a king should be a man after Gods own heart like David, as appeareth in the first book of Samuel, the thirteenth Chapter & fourteenth verse. As all those whom God set over his people in his mercy and not in his anger, had some note of excellency above the rest, which God chose them by, as it were the Magistrates mark: the mildest man, Numb. 12. 3. or the wisest man, 1. Reg. 4. 31. or the justest man, Heb. 7. 2. as though if all these had met in one, the inquisition should have stayed there, and all give place to him: but our virtues are so singled, that he which was called the mildest is not called the wisest, and he which was called the wisest, is not called the ⟨p. 699⟩justest, as though God found some defect in his own election. For when he chose one mild, another wise, & another just, he showed that he would have one which is mild, and wise, and just like himself, that is, (as I may say) a man made even in print.

I haue sayd ye are Gods &c. First this name enformes vs what kinde of Rulers and Magistrates we should choose: those which excell all other men like Gods amongst men. For a king should be a man after Gods owne heart like Dauid, as appeareth in the first booke of Samuel, the thirteenth Chapter & fourteenth verse. As all those whom God set ouer his people in his mercy and not in his anger, had some note of excellencie aboue the rest, which God chose them by, as it were the Magistrates marke: the mildest man, Numb. 12. 3. or the wisest man, 1. Reg. 4. 31. or the iustest man, Heb. 7. 2. as though if all these had met in one, the inquisition should haue staied there, and all giue place to him: but our vertues are so singled, that he which was called the mildest is not called the wisest, and hee which was called the wisest, is not called the ⟨p. 699⟩iustest, as though God found some defect in his owne election. For when hee chose one milde, another wise, & another iust, he shewed that hee would haue one which is milde, and wise, and iust like himselfe, that is, (as I may say) a man made euen in print.