Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now must we also mark this saying of Moses, Choose ye men of wisdom and of good skill, men well tried, that they may be set over you according to your tribes, even over Thousands, over Hundreds, and over Fifties, as we shall see afterward. Hereby it is showed us, that when men are to be chosen to bear office in the common weal, they must be chosen with discretion, and not taken at all adventure whosoever can thrust in himself first: neither must they be preferred at any mans pleasure for favour or for some fond bravery: but in such wise as God may overrule the choice, and such men be picked out as are known to be meet to occupy the rooms that they be called unto. And specially we must observe that which is rehearsed in the eighteenth chapter of Exodus heretofore alleged:¹ for there Jethro saith that we must take such men as are stout, fearing God, lovers of the trueth, and haters of covetousness. Who is he that speaketh this? A poor heathen man, as I have said already: & yet God governeth his tongue in such wise, as we cannot have a better teacher than him, when we be about to choose men to govern a people. First of all he requireth men that are stout, such as are not womanish, but have wherewith to go through with such a charge, and have both good zeal, courage, and noble-mindedness. Howbeit, forasmuch as without the fear of God all the virtues in man do turn to evil: behold, Jethro who never heard any one word of holy scripture, doth notwithstanding perceive full well that it is unpossible for a man to discharge his duty in governing a people, unless he fear God. If a heathen man could speak after that manner: what a shame is it for us nowadays, that we should have less discretion than he? And yet a man may see with his eyes how the world goeth. Have men this consideration with them when they go about to choose officers of Justice, that they will needs have the fear of God to be the first thing in the party? True it is that men will profess ⟨p. 16⟩so, & even nature compelleth us to say, that we had need of men that are wise, and stout, verily as granting covertly that there is neither wisdom nor courage, without the fear of God bear sway. Again, to express the fruits of the fear of God yet the better, Jethro addeth, that there must be uprightness and trueth.

Now must wee also marke this saying of Moses, Choose ye men of wisedome and of good skill, men well tryed, that they may be set ouer you according to your tribes, euen ouer Thousandes, ouer Hundreds, and ouer Fifties, as wee shall see afterward. Hereby it is shewed vs, that when men are to be chosen to beare office in the common weale, they must be chosen with discretion, and not taken at al aduenture whosoeuer can thrust in himselfe first: neither must they be preferred at any mans pleasure for fauor or for some fond brauery: but in such wise as God may ouerrule the choyce, and such men be picked out as are knowen to be meete to occupy the roomes that they be called vnto. And specially wee must obserue that which is rehearsed in the eighteenth chapter of Exodus heretofore alledged: