Now, for because the Judicial laws do first of all require Judges, 1such, I mean, as should maintain & put the laws in execution (for the laws without executors seem to be dead, and on the other side are alive under a just magistrate, who is for y• cause called the living law) therefore before all other laws are placed those Judicial laws, which were given by God touching the magistrate or Judges, with their office and election. Of their election thus we read: Bring ye, saith Moses to the people, men of wisdom, and of understanding, and expert, according to your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you. Again, I will make thee rulers and Judges to judge the people according to thy tribes in all thy cities, which the Lord thy God giveth thee. And yet again more plainly: Seek (saith Jethro, being inspired from above, unto Moses) out of all the people, men of courage, and such as fear God, true men, hating covetousness, to wite, such as hate to take money and bribes▪ and make of them over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: and let them judge the people at all seasons. Which if thou doest thou shalt both keep the ordinances of God, and the people in peace and safety. To this doth belong that which we read in the book of Nun bers, where Moses prayed, saying: Let the God of the spirits of all flesh set a man over this congregation, which may go out and in before them: that the congregation of the Lord be not as sheep without a shepherd. Herein Moses hath left an example for us to imitate in making our prayers to God for the election of our Judges. For often times our opinions or judgements of men do utterly deceive us. But the God of spirits doth behold the minds and hearts, & knoweth what every one is, in thoughts ⟨p. 390⟩and inward meaning. He therefore must be besought to give and show to us not hypocrites to be our Judges, but men of trueth and virtue. In the same place doth Moses leave to us the description of consecrating new chosen Judges. For they were set before the Lord and hands were laid upon them with making of prayers & supplications. Moreover the office of Judges is very briefly, but yet in most effectual and absolute sentences described of the Lord, by the mouth of Moses, in these words:
Nowe, for because the Iudiciall lawes do first of all require Iudges, 1such, I meane, as should mainteine & put the lawes in execution (for the lawes without executours séeme to be dead, and on the other side are aliue vnder a iust magistrate, who is for y• cause called the liuing lawe) therefore before all other lawes are placed those Iudicial lawes, which were giuen by God touching the magistrate or Iudges, with their office and election. Of their election thus we reade: Bring ye, saith Moses to the people, men of wisedome, and of vnderstanding, and expert, according to your tribes, and I will make them rulers ouer you. Againe, I will make thee rulers and Iudges to iudge the people according to thy tribes in all thy cities, which the Lorde thy God giueth thee. And yet againe more plainly: Seeke (saith Ieth•o, being inspired from aboue, vnto Moses) out of all the people, men of courage, and suche as feare God, true men, hating couetousnesse, to wite, such as hate to take money and bribes▪ and make of them ouer the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundredes, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tennes: and let them iudge the people at all seasons. Which if thou doest thou shalt both keep the ordinances of God, and the people in peace and safetie. To this doth belōg that which we reade in ye booke of Nū bers, where Moses prayed, saying: Let the God of the spirits of al fleashe set a man ouer this congregation, which may go out and in before thē: that the congregation of the Lord be not as sheepe without a shepehearde. Herein Moses hath leaft an example for vs to imitate in making our prayers to God for the election of our Iudges. For often times our opinions or iudgements of men do vtterly deceiue vs. But the God of spirites doth behold the mindes and heartes, & kneweth what euery one is, in thoughtes ⟨p. 390⟩and inward meaning. He therefore must be besought to giue and shewe to vs not hypocrites to be our Iudges, but men of trueth and vertue. In the same place doth Moses leaue to vs the description of consecrating newe chosen Iudges. For they were set before the Lorde and handes were laide vpon them with making of prayers & supplications. Moreouer the office of Iudges is verie briefely, but yet in moste effectuall and absolute sentences described of the Lord, by ye mouth of Moses, in these wordes:
- 1The laws […] judges.The lawes 〈…〉 i•dges.
