Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)

Magistratus (which word we use for the room wherein the magistrate ¹is) doth take the name A magistris populi designandis, of assigning the masters, guiders, and captains of the people. That room & place is called by the name of power or authority, by reason of the power that is given to it of God. It is called by the name of Domination for the dominion that the Lord doth grant it upon yt earth. They are called Princes that have yt Dominion: for they have a preeminence above the people. They are called Consules of Counselling: And kings of Commanding, ruling, and governing the people: So then the Magistracy (that I may henceforward use this word for the magistrates power and place) is an office, and an action in the executing of the same. Aristotle defineth the magistrate to be a keeper of the laws. Plutarch, in that book wherein he showeth that learning is required to be in a king, among other things saith: Princes are the ministers of god for the oversight and safeguard of mortal men, to the end that they may partly distribute, and partly keep, the good things that he doth liberally give, and frankly bestow upon them. The Magistracy, by the Scriptures, may be defined to be a divine ordinance or action, whereby the good being defended by the Princes […], and the evil suppressed by the same authority, godliness, justice, honesty, peace, and tranquillity both public and private are safely preserved. Whereby we gather, that to govern a common weal, and to execute the office of a magistrate, is a worship and service to God himself: God verily is delighted therein. For the office of a magistrate is a thing most excellent, and abounding with all good works, as in my former sermon I have declared.

Magistratus (which woord we vse for the roome wherein the magistrate ¹is) doth take the name A magistris populi designandis, of assigning the masters, guiders, and captaines of the people. That roome & place is called by the name of power or authoritie, by reason of the power that is giuen to it of God. It is called by the name of Domination for the dominion that the Lord doth graunt it vpon yt earth. They are called Princes that haue yt Dominion: for they haue a preeminence aboue the people. They are called Consules of Counseling: And kinges of Commaunding, ruling, and gouerning the people: So then ye Magistracie (that I may henceforward vse this word for the magistrates power and place) is an office, and an action in the executing of the same. Aristotle defineth the magistrate to be a kéeper of the lawes. Plutarch, in that booke wherein hée sheweth that learning is required to be in a king, among other things sayth: Princes are the ministers of god for the ouersight and safegard of mortall men, to the end that they may partly distribute, and partly keep, the good things that he doth liberallie giue, and franckly bestow vppon them. The Magistracie, by the Scriptures, may be defined to be a diuine ordinaunce or action, wherby the good being defended by ye Princes , and the euill suppressed by the same authoritie, godlines, iustice, honestie, peace, and tranquilliie both publique and priuate are safely preserued. Wherby we gather, that to gouerne a common weale, and to execute the office of a magistrate, is a worship and seruice to God himselfe: God verilie is delighted therein. For the office of a magistrate is a thing most excellente, and abounding with all good workes, as in my former sermon I haue declared.